On March 25, 2026, Mr. William Vittetoe, Director of International Student and Scholar Services, and Ms. Elizabeth Clevenger, Assistant Director of International Student and Scholar Services, met with Victoria Roberts, Chief of Staff, and Rebeca Pasini, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange, from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to discuss BridgeUSA, the Government’s largest international exchange program.

Each year, BridgeUSA brings approximately 300,000 temporary participants from around the world to the United States to study, engage in collaborative research, build professional networks, strengthen their English language and intercultural skills, gain real-world experience, and develop leadership skills, and then return home as advocates for the U.S. As a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor and host for J-1 students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, specialists, and interns, the University of Tennessee partners with the Department of State to foster mutual understanding through educational and cultural exchange.