As Xavier University of Louisiana approaches 100 years of educating the next generation of leaders, the commitment of Xavier’s faculty has been vital to the university’s academic achievements and global contributions. Brittany Singleton (’13), Pharm.D., clinical associate professor in Xavier’s College of Pharmacy’s (COP) Division of Clinical and Administrative Sciences, exemplifies Xavier’s excellence as a recipient of a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to the island nation of Grenada for the 2023-2024 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.  

“I am pleased that Dr. Singleton has been named a Fulbright Scholar. Upholding Xavier’s mission as a Xavier alumna, she will bring her expertise to the island of Grenada. I wish her well as she begins this work, and I look forward to learning from her about her experiences,” said Marguerite S. Giguette, Ph.D., Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs.  

While in Grenada during the spring of 2024, Dr. Singleton will teach in the T.A. Marryshow Community College’s pharmacy program, one of only two pharmacy degree-granting programs in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. In addition to collaborating with faculty and students at the college, Dr. Singleton will provide continuing education to local pharmacists while learning about healthcare challenges in the Caribbean. She hopes to establish a lasting partnership between the Xavier COP and the T.A. Marryshow College pharmacy programs to positively impact patient outcomes throughout the African Diaspora. 

“I am greatly honored to have been selected for the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Award. As an associate professor at Xavier, a beacon of both Catholic and African American heritage, this opportunity resonates deeply with our institution’s commitment to social justice and global citizenship,” said Dr. Singleton. “The Fulbright program not only enriches my professional journey but also empowers me to inspire our students, cultivate diverse perspectives, and advance Xavier’s mission of excellence and service on a global scale. With gratitude, I embrace the opportunity to foster mutual understanding through education and future cross-cultural engagement.” 

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world. For over 70 years, it has provided more than 400,000 participants from over 160 countries, chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential, with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to challenges facing our communities and our world. In addition, over 2,000 U.S. students, artists, and early career professionals from all backgrounds in more than 100 different fields of study receive Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards annually to study, teach English, and conduct research overseas.   

Fulbright awardees engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions. Upon the recipients’ return to their home countries, institutions, labs, and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and fellow students to study abroad. The careers of Fulbright alums are enriched by joining a network of thousands of esteemed scholars, many of whom are leaders in their fields, including Nobel Prize laureates, Pulitzer Prize recipients, MacArthur Fellows, and many who have served as heads of state or government.  

Xavier was previously recognized by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) during the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 academic years by the HBCU Fulbright Program. 

“Xavier is proud to be recognized by HBCU Fulbright institutional leaders in acknowledgment of our strong partnership with the Fulbright Program,” said Dr. Yu Jiang, Director of International Education and Senior International Officer. “Dr. Singleton’s selection to receive the 2023-2024 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award continues Xavier’s participation in the program. I look forward to expanding Xavier’s engagement with Fulbright and encouraging more students, faculty and staff to study, teach or conduct research in other countries, as well as hosting Fulbright scholars from abroad.” 

Dr. Singleton’s dedication and leadership exemplify the university’s mission, with her commitment to education pushing Xavier forward to the continued goal of cultivating a just and humane society.