Erica Lutes ‘02 - Belgium
- MH European Alum Council
- Jun 8
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 12
We are delighted to share our latest Global Alum Alliance feature interview, as we celebrate the lives and achievements of alums around the world. This In the Spotlight interview focuses on Erica Lutes '02, a senior international education exchange executive living in Leuven, Belgium.
Please get in touch if you feel your story would be of interest, or would like to recommend a fellow alum!
Spotlight on…
Name: Erica Lutes '02
Class Year: 2002
Country: Belgium
Major: International Relations - Minor: Romance Languages
Profession: Executive Director at Fulbright
"Through my work, I have the privilege of enabling students and scholars to pursue international educational exchanges that can broaden their understanding of the world and truly change their lives."
From double majoring in International Relations with a Minor in Romance Languages at Mount Holyoke to leading the Fulbright Commission in Brussels, in this Spotlight interview, Erica Lutes '02 discusses her experiences in international academic exchanges and education, and elaborates on the challenges faced by the sector in this progressively polarized world.
1) Can you tell us a little bit about yourself --what you do and what you have achieved since MHC?
My name is Erica Lutes, or as I’ve become known in my adopted hometown of Leuven, “Erica from America”. Although I have spent the past twenty years in Belgium, I actually grew up in New Jersey and still travel back there regularly to visit my family. As a senior in high school deciding where to study, I was drawn to the idea of attending a women’s college and especially the amazing and dynamic women at Mount Holyoke, and I spent an amazing four years in South Hadley. After a short postgrad stint in investment banking, I moved to Belgium for a graduate degree at KU Leuven … and never left! Today, I serve as the Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission in Brussels, responsible for the Fulbright Belgium, Luxembourg, and Schuman Programs. Through my work, I have the privilege of enabling students and scholars to pursue international educational exchanges that can broaden their understanding of the world and truly change their lives.
2) You started your career in banking; was there a particular event or reason that motivated you to switch to public service and focus on international educational exchange?
Little did I know that when I was doing internships and having different career experiences, the advice I received would be the same I would one day give out to young students; that is, try everything. It is just as important to find out the things you do not like as it is to discover what you do enjoy. Although I am grateful for the experience and for the year I spent at Goldman Sachs, I realized that investment banking was not something I wanted to do for my entire career. For me, it became clear that I needed a job that was fast-paced and dynamic, but also one that allowed me to help others. Working in international education has been incredibly meaningful and even after a decade and a half at the Fulbright Commission, knowing that I am helping to change the lives of others through international exchange opportunities remains extremely motivating
3) What is your perspective on the role and relevance of international educational exchanges in the world these days?
It may sound like a cliché, but with the world as it is today, I truly feel that international education is more important than ever. I believe that people-to-people exchanges like those facilitated by the Fulbright Program are critical in our current environment, because they help us as individuals to better understand each other – to go beyond headlines and politics, and truly get to know another person’s culture and values.
The perspectives that we gain through educational and cultural exchange help us to understand and explain what is happening in the world, and ultimately encourage empathy and understanding across borders. I am so proud that this is the work I get to promote every day.
4) What have been some of the most challenging and rewarding moments in your career?
Some of the most rewarding moments in my career have involved helping students, both Belgians and Americans, who never imagined it would be possible for them to study abroad, because of their background or financial situation. Seeing those students succeed and seeing the doors that have opened to them as a result of their international exchange has been incredibly fulfilling.
At the same time, some of the biggest challenges I have faced involved helping students who struggle with their mental health during their exchanges. While academic exchange can be an amazing and life-changing experience, it is not easy to leave behind your family and friends and begin anew in an unfamiliar environment. I have seen students struggle with the adjustment and with physical and mental health challenges that have even required hospitalization or repatriation. Supporting them through those difficult periods has been challenging but deeply important.
6) Can you share some details about special projects or people that have crossed your path during your work at Fulbright?
I have had the honor of working with many different communities throughout my career, each of which has shaped the way in which I view my work. As the Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission, I have worked with ambassadors from different political backgrounds and interacted with many heads of state. Notably, Fulbright alumni have served as the heads of state of both Belgium and Luxembourg and working with the former Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, and the current Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden, has been a highlight of my career. These men are incredible examples of how international education shapes leaders, and I am grateful that they have remained active members of our alum community throughout their careers. I am also honored to have spent the past several years as an academic adviser to Belgian Crown Princess Elisabeth, who is currently finishing a master’s degree at Harvard University as part of a Fulbright grant.
At the same time, I have also spent nearly ten years as a volunteer in five prisons across Belgium, where I have worked with some of the most vulnerable and marginalized populations in the country. This experience has opened my eyes to a completely different perspective, and in its own way has been just as rewarding and informative as my interactions with government leaders.
7) You have been living in Europe for several years. How would you characterize the differences between the US and European educational cultures and systems?
When I first arrived in Belgium as a graduate student, I thought that because America and Europe shared so much history and many similar political values, that the educational systems would feel very similar. However, after three master’s degrees and more than twenty years here, I have realized there are in fact many differences!
One strength of the American system is the level of interaction between professors and students: at all levels of education, teachers and professors are encouraged to be dynamic and to really engage with students in the classroom. The result is a dynamic classroom, where students are invited to participate, think critically, and challenge existing perspectives.
In Belgium, the system can sometimes feel more formal and hierarchical, with fewer opportunities for engagement, and especially in large undergraduate classes, students may feel like a number on an attendance list rather than a member of the student body. At the same time, there is something extremely valuable about a European system that is accessible and affordable for so many people. Access to higher education is seen as a right, not a privilege, and the system is funded accordingly.
Neither system is perfect, but I love seeing how our alums who return to careers in education and academia are able to incorporate aspects of both systems into their teaching and research.
8) With the rapid development of AI, what part of your current work do you think could be totally obsolete in five years, and does that bother you?
The rise of AI has been very interesting as the director of a scholarship program, because we have seen the rapid evolution of how candidates are applying this technology in their applications and even during interviews. It is a far cry from the handwritten applications of the 1940s, or the typewritten grant documents of the 1960s!
While we are all still trying to figure out how to harness it in a positive and useful way for our own work, I am confident that AI will never replace people-to-people exchanges. We saw this during the COVID-19 pandemic, when students received funding for virtual scholarships and followed courses online from their homes. While those experiences still had value, they could never fully replace the experience of living abroad and connecting with people in person. I do not believe AI will ever completely capture that human element.
9) What advice would you give to young graduates today who want to pursue a career in public service and, more specifically, in international educational exchange?
Many people interested in international relations think first about careers in embassies, the United Nations, or other large international organizations. Those are wonderful opportunities, but I also think it is important to consider international education as a path into diplomacy and public service.
Organizations like Fulbright allow you to work closely with governments, universities, and international institutions while promoting education and cultural exchange.
In my own work, I collaborate with the Belgian government, the government of Luxembourg, the European Commission, and the U.S. Department of State. There are also many other career paths in international education, including working at universities, promoting student exchanges, or supporting international offices that help students study abroad.
9) How did your MHC experience contribute to your professional interests and life aspirations?
Funnily, this is actually a question I often ask Fulbright alumni as well—how their experiences as grantees have shaped their lives and careers. But I can honestly say that I think about Mount Holyoke all the time because my time as a student at MHC gave me the confidence and leadership skills that I still use today.
As student government president, I learned how to work with many different groups of people, from students and faculty to deans and administrators. That role taught me how to manage relationships, communicate effectively, and balance different perspectives. In my current role, I work with students, boards of directors, governments, and institutional partners every day, so those leadership experiences at Mount Holyoke were incredibly valuable preparation.
10) What is your most fond memory of your time back at MHC?
Some of my fondest memories are still waking up at five o’clock in the morning for crew practice, where I would spend hours rowing alongside women were so inspiring and strong -- both literally and figuratively. I still remember the early morning fog, the incredible atmosphere on the water, and the sense of teamwork and determination we shared. And of course, the chocolate chip pancakes we would eat afterwards in the dorms! I have never forgotten those moments, and they remain some of my happiest memories from Mount Holyoke.
Interview conducted Spring 2026 by Silvia Maulini '80
