The University of Michigan can trace its global reach to the late 1840s and neighboring Canada, home of the first international student, and China, where Judson Collins — a member of the first graduating class — traveled as a missionary. This launched a legacy of global connections. President James B. Angell served the U.S. government as minister to China in 1880-81. The first student from Asia (Japan) enrolled in 1872, the first from Puerto Rico in 1877 and the first from Africa in 1884. By the early 1900s U-M was among the top three U.S. universities with Chinese student enrollment; the Barbour Scholarships have supported women students from Asian countries for nearly 100 years. Today, U-M routinely leads the country in students receiving Fulbright grants to study internationally.
— Photo and text are presented at the U-M Bicentennial website
