Austrian Fulbright Alumni (AFA), established in 1994, is the independent alum organization founded and managed by Austrian alums of Fulbright Austria’s programs. The AFA supports the aims of Fulbright Austria and acts as a link between former grantees and as a basis of exchange between alums and current students, scholars, and teaching assistants during their stay in Austria.

The current board members of the AFA are: Anja Cervenka, Erich Kandler, Julia Pataky, Julia Raptis, Lisa Reck-Burneo, Cornelia Stellwag-Carion, and Lothar Hofmann (president).

The AFA participates in Fulbright Austria’s activities and organizes events with the goal of bringing together current Fulbrighters and providing a venue for them to present their work and achievements to alums.

The AFA organizes scientific, cultural, sport, and other social events and is active in the European Network of American Alums (ENAM).

The AFA’s activities this autumn include the traditional sailing regatta on the Old Danube on 30 September 2023, a human rights discussion from an Austrian and a US perspective on 16 October 2023, and a Ganslessen on 8 November 2023—and, as a highlight of the ball season, the traditional invitation to current program participants to the Ball of the Vienna University of Technology (TU-Ball) on 25 January 2024, supported by preparatory dancing lessons for the program participants. Furthermore, the AFA regularly organizes well-attended home dinners for US Fulbrighters hosted by enthusiastic Austrian alums, many of whom participate year after year.

The AFA works closely together with Fulbright Austria and supported the 2022 Fulbrighters of the next Decade (FOLD) Symposium, organized by three committed Fulbright alums. And the AFA will host a reception at Fulbright Austria’s Thank Fulbright – Thanksgiving event on 28 November 2023.

The AFA charges a nominal annual membership fee, currently set at €25, and the membership fee is waived in 2023 and 2024 for grantees returning from the US in 2023 if they apply for membership by the end of December 2023 on the AFA’s homepage.