A Q&A with Fulbright College Scholarships’ Carl Riley

Carl Riley
Associate Director of Scholarships
Fulbright College Office of Development and External Relations

In this conversation, Riley talks about spending 26 years helping students connect to scholarship funds, sharing laughter and interesting conversations with faculty, staff and students, and cheering on the Hogs football team while assisting in the “I Believe” initiative in the Student-Athlete Success Center.

Q: Tell us a little about your role within the college. What excites you about this?

As associate director of scholarships in Fulbright College, I help coordinate the selection and notification process to student scholarship recipients of their scholarship awards. The selection of scholarship recipients is completed by departments and associate deans in Fulbright College.

Last year, I was proud to help award 836 scholarships to our students totaling $2,365,289.

I’m also involved in the stewardship process of donors within the college. It’s important to have documentation of letters of gratitude from the student scholarship recipients.

What excites me about this is the impact that scholarship funds have on students and how their lives have been changed. This is reinforced when I attend the National Scholarship Providers Association annual conference, because the luncheon speaker is often the recipient of scholarship funds through foundations.

In addition, having the chance to meet some of the donors during special events is pretty exciting. It gives me the opportunity to put a face to a name.

Q: How long have you been at Fulbright College? What have you enjoyed most about your time here?

I’ve been in Fulbright College for approximately 26 years. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to recruit a diverse population of students to the university and namely, Fulbright College.

Having the opportunity to interact with students; engage in diverse conversations with faculty, staff and students; and observing some of the guest speakers and performances brought to the university and Fulbright College is amazing.

Q: What do you most hope your students and/or colleagues remember from their interactions with you?

I hope that students, faculty and colleagues remember the stimulating conversations from their interactions with me, as well as the laughter that sometimes followed.

Q: What do you like to do during your time outside of the university?

Outside of the university, I enjoy walking, yoga, biking, visiting Crystal Bridges and singing in the choir.

Q: What’s up next on the horizon for you?

I would like to learn how to play golf. I have a brother who enjoys watching golf on TV and when watching golf with him, it seems like an amazing sport.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add or let readers know?

I enjoy supporting the Hogs football team as well as assisting in the “I Believe” initiative sponsored by the Student-Athlete Success Center.