Welcoming Executive Director Cathleen Fisher: Diverse Talent in Fulbright Germany Exchange Programs Vital to Transatlantic Cooperation

Fisher is a renowned expert in German-American relations and has been engaged in transatlantic exchanges for over 25 years. She previously served as the President of the American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH), a German Foundation that supports research exchange between Germany and 140 other countries. At American Friends, she worked with the Board of Directors to build and professionalize operations and to promote the Humboldt Foundation’s programs to US scholars and scientists. Fisher developed new initiatives to engage the over 5,400 US-based alumni of the AvH, including a Humboldt Digital Dialogue on science, society and policy and actions to diversify the pool of applicants for AvH programs.

From 2002 to 2006, she was deputy director of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS). At AICGS, she was centrally involved in managing all operations and programs in support of the Institute’s mission. Before joining AICGS, Fisher spent ten years as a senior associate at the Henry L. Stimson Center, where she focused on nuclear arms control, export controls, and transatlantic security issues.

Under the leadership of the newly appointed Executive Director, Fulbright Germany will continue to strengthen mutual understanding between the United States and Germany and help to create robust transatlantic connections to facilitate continued cooperation on shared challenges.

“As a former Fulbright Germany grantee, I am honored and thrilled to serve as Executive Director of the German-American Fulbright Commission. As we celebrate 75 years of the Fulbright program globally and approach the 70th anniversary of Fulbright Germany, I look forward to working with our Board, the talented Fulbright Germany team, our grantees and alumni to ensure that Fulbright Germany’s exchange programs reflect the rich diversity and talent of our respective societies and that Fulbrighters continue to play a vital role in sustaining US-German cooperation and cross-cultural understanding in the face of complex global challenges and societal change.”