Spring Break
UA prof. finds niche through hard work
Profile from The Hill
Allen Moseley
Issue date: 4/7/04 Section: News
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Purvis graduated from UT-Austin with a degree in journalism and politics in 1961. He earned his graduate degree two years later in the same field. He was also editor of The Daily Texan, UT's student newspaper.
Upon graduation, Purvis began working as a political writer for the Houston Chronicle in 1964, all the while maintaining a keen interest in the political maneuvering of his home state of Texas and in Washington, D.C.
Departing the Chronicle, Purvis' international interest guided him to teach journalism at the University of East Africa in Nairobi, Kenya.
From there, he moved to Capitol Hill as the press secretary and special assistant to Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas.
Fulbright was one of the more influential men in the Senate chambers. He chaired the Senate Foreign Relations committee and was an outspoken opponent of the Vietnam conflict.
During his stint as Fulbright's press secretary, Purvis became very involved with the Fulbright Exchange Program, which had been borne out of legislation proposed by the senator and passed in 1946.
The exchange program, which is now the largest of its kind, organizes the transfer of students, scholars, professors and professionals between the United States and more than 150 countries around the globe.
At last count, more than 260,000 participants have benefited directly from the work of the Fulbright Exchange Program, Purvis said.
In 1993, Purvis was appointed by President Bill Clinton as a member of the Fulbright Scholarship Board, a 12-member committee consisting of leaders from the educational community and public life.
The Board organized all of the inner workings of the program, including the establishment of new host nations and universities, Purvis said. Purvis served three consecutive terms and was the chairman of the board from 1995 until 1998. He retired from the committee last year.
Purvis is a professor in the journalism department. He teaches Media and Society, Sports Journalism and several classes dealing with government and the media. He established the Fulbright Institute at the UA 18 years ago. He also created a degree program in international relations.
