MGCC’s Dr. Matt McGraw selected for Fulbright Specialist project in Sri Lanka
CLIFTON FORGE, VA – Mountain Gateway Community College proudly announces that Dr. Matt McGraw, Chief Workforce Officer, has been selected to receive a prestigious Fulbright Specialist Program award by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
Through this highly competitive program, Dr. McGraw will support the Sarvodaya Institute of Higher Learning (SIHL) in Sri Lanka, an institution renowned for its commitment to peacebuilding, education, and sustainable community development. His work will focus on educational training and program development to promote global citizenship, civic engagement, and cross-cultural understanding.
“It's an incredible honor to represent MGCC and the United States in this capacity,” said Dr. McGraw. “Sarvodaya’s mission of empowering individuals and communities through education aligns deeply with my own passion for inclusive, service-driven learning. I’m excited to build a lasting partnership between our institutions and share insights that benefit both sides of the exchange.”
Dr. McGraw is one of over 400 U.S. citizens selected annually to share their expertise with institutions abroad through the Fulbright Specialist Program. Specialists are chosen for their academic and professional achievements, leadership, and potential to strengthen international collaboration.
“We are tremendously proud of Dr. McGraw and this well-deserved recognition,” said Dr. John Rainone, President of Mountain Gateway Community College. “His role in helping lay the foundation for a new institute is exactly the kind of real-world leadership we value in our faculty and staff. It’s not just about what he brings to Sri Lanka — it’s about what he brings back. This kind of two-way exchange enriches our classrooms and deepens the education our students receive here in Virginia.”
Dr. McGraw’s work reflects MGCC’s commitment to transformative learning and community engagement. His role in Sri Lanka represents more than international outreach — it’s a meaningful collaboration that brings global insight into local instruction, benefiting students across our region.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange initiative, designed to promote mutual understanding and cooperation among nations. Since its founding in 1946, more than 400,000 Fulbrighters have worked to solve shared global challenges while fostering lasting international partnerships.
Dr. McGraw will depart for Sri Lanka in late June and return in late July 2025. His experience will be shared with the MGCC community through presentations and educational programming in the fall.
For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit eca.state.gov/fulbright.
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