President Donald Trump has appointed Paul Winfree, a Heritage Foundation economic expert, to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Fulbright programs are federally funded cultural exchange programs. American scholarship recipients live abroad to conduct research and teach; meanwhile, foreign recipients are invited to visit the U.S. for the same purpose.

Since Congress established the Fulbright Program in 1946, more than 390,000 scholars, scientists, teachers, students, and artists have received the opportunity to work toward solving some of the most pressing problems facing society, according to the bureau's website.

“Paul is a strong addition to the board,” says Jack Spencer, vice president of Heritage’s Institute for Economic Freedom. “His unique combination of intellectual gravitas, dedication, and ability to bring people together to solve problems will be of great value to the Fulbright board. ”

Winfree is director of Heritage’s Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies as well as the Richard F. Aster fellow. His policy work in the field of economics focuses on public finance, the federal budget process, and the history of economic thought.

“The Fulbright program is an excellent example of what makes the United States exceptional. It is used to develop strong, fruitful relationships to advance the progress in science, the arts, history, economics, and many other areas,” says Winfree. “The program also helps us connect people around the world in a way that reduces barriers and it helps us to realize that there are more similarities between us than differences.”

Winfree recently returned to The Heritage Foundation after serving at the White House as deputy assistant to the president for domestic policy, deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council, and the director of budget policy.