Taft is pleased to announce that its Pro Bono Director Monica Fennell has been selected by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board to receive a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to the Republic of Maldives. Fennell will lecture at Maldives National University and will work with the Bar Council of the Maldives to create a pro bono clearinghouse.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to support the Fulbright Program global mission and collaborate with their diverse and dynamic network of scholars and professionals. I am looking forward to exchanging ideas on important access to justice topics with the legal community in the Maldives,” said Fennell.

As a Fulbright U.S. Scholar, Fennell will share knowledge and foster meaningful connections across communities in the United States and the Maldives. Fulbrighters 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 returning to their institutions, labs, and classrooms, in the United States, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad. As Fulbright Scholar alumni, their careers are enriched by joining a network of thousands of esteemed scholars, many of whom are leaders in their fields. Fulbright alumni include 61 Nobel Prize laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize recipients, and 40 who have served as a head of state or government.

“We are immensely proud to have Monica represent Taft as she embarks on the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program to the Republic of Maldives. Teaching as a Fulbright Scholar at Maldives National University and working with the Bar Council of the Maldives is an unparalleled opportunity to advance knowledge across communities and improve lives around the world. We look forward to seeing her impact on the Maldives community and seeing the pro bono opportunities she will bring back to the firm,” said Andrew M. Carlson, Taft partner and Pro Bono Committee chair.

As pro bono director, Fennell leads the pro bono program across Taft. This includes identifying and developing opportunities for the program, overseeing an integrated pro bono system across the firm, and ensuring that all Taft pro bono legal services are consistent with Taft’s values and commitment to improving the communities it serves. With over 30 years of experience in the legal industry, Fennell brings a trusted perspective to Taft’s pro bono program. She earned her B.A., cum laude, from Williams College and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. She also has a professional development certificate in peace and conflict studies as a Rotary Peace Fellow at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.

About Fulbright

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 participants from over 160 countries the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright program is an annual appropriation by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit here or contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office by email ECA-Press@state.gov.