In a testament to Texas Tech’s expanding global reach, Amy Boren-Alpizar, an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Education & Communications, has been selected as a 2025–2026 Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Peru, a prestigious honor administered by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
“I am honored to have been selected for such a prestigious award,” Boren-Alpizar said. “I relish the opportunity to work with faculty at the National University of Central Peru on research related to community-based forest management in the Andean Highlands.”
Boren-Alpizar will join the ranks of more than 800 scholars who each year undertake teaching and research assignments around the world through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Her work in Peru will focus on integrating the technical components of community-based forest management with the socio-economic dynamics of rural community thriving—an area she has long championed through her dual appointment at the university’s International Center for Food Industry Excellence, part of Texas Tech’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources.
Boren-Alpizar joined Texas Tech in 2014 following leadership and teaching roles in Latin American-focused development and education. Her prior positions include work with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture and serving as executive director of El Centro de las Américas.
She also held academic appointments at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska Wesleyan University, where she began her academic journey with bachelor’s degrees in French and Spanish. She went on to earn a master’s degree in leadership education and a doctorate in human sciences–leadership studies, both from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Fulbright Program, established in 1946, is among the world’s most widely recognized international exchange initiatives. Scholars are chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential, with a mission to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries.
Julie Taylor, Director of Academic Relations for the Fulbright Program at the Institute of International Education in Washington, D.C., emphasized the shared responsibility of institutions in supporting their scholars abroad. Fulbright awards primarily cover in-country expenses, and recognize the crucial support provided by home institutions—course coverage, continued benefits, and salary supplements all contribute to a scholar’s success.
“The Fulbright Program continues to recognize scholars who not only contribute significantly to their fields but also foster critical cross-cultural understanding,” Taylor said. “These awards enhance the international stature of their home institutions. We hope Texas Tech will leverage this opportunity to deepen research collaborations and alumni engagement in the region.”
CONTACT: Scott Burris, Chair, Department of Agricultural Education & Communications, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-8689 or scott.burris@ttu.edu
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