Maya McDermott '26 Earns Fulbright to Argentina</h1> <article> <h1>Maya McDermott '26 Earns Fulbright to Argentina</h1> <p>dfrezza — Thu, 28 May 2026 19:21:35 +0000</p> <span>Maya McDermott '26 Earns Fulbright to Argentina</span> <span><span>dfrezza</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-05-28T15:21:35-04:00" title="Thursday, May 28, 2026 - 15:21">Thu, 05/28/2026 - 15:21</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>What are you looking forward to the most with your Fulbright? </strong><br>I spent a semester studying abroad in Buenos Aires in the spring of 2025, and absolutely fell in love with the capital city and the country as a whole. I’m thrilled to return to Argentina and potentially experience living in a different part of the country. </p><p>I’m also looking forward to getting to know my students and further immersing myself in Argentine culture. I studied Spanish throughout my entire time at ��سԹ�, so I’m excited to continue to improve my Spanish-speaking skills and live again in a country I’ve come to embrace and deeply appreciate.</p><p><strong>How did ��سԹ� shape or influence you to pursue the Fulbright?</strong><br>My time at ��سԹ� completely informed my decision to pursue a <a href="/news/oberlin-celebrates-years-fulbright-winners" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="b8a20a4f-3b1b-4ee9-8d92-315bcfa3703a" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="��سԹ� Celebrates This Year’s Fulbright Winners">Fulbright,</a> particularly my experience in the SITES program. I learned about SITES through the Hispanic Studies department. While I had little to no teaching experience prior to starting the program, I was interested in working with children and thought it would be an interesting way to practice Spanish outside of the classroom. In SITES, I gained the pedagogical skills to teach to a variety of different ages, as well as learned the challenges and rewards of being an educator. I’ve also worked as a teaching assistant and tutor for HISP 101 and 102 classes in the college. Through this experience, I’ve discovered how much I enjoy working with college students, which is especially exciting as I prepare to do just that during my Fulbright in Argentina.</p><p><strong>How does pursuing the Fulbright align with your post-college life and career goals? </strong><br>While I’m not fully settled on my post-college career path, I’m interested in potentially attending graduate school for public policy with a focus in educational policy. With Fulbright, I hope to deepen my understanding of how a different country approaches issues such as education, governance, and social equity. This experience will allow me to bring to a future role a more global and inclusive approach to policy analysis and development. </p><p><strong>What’s the best advice you’ve received from your ��سԹ� faculty mentor?</strong><br>During my first semester in SITES, I was overcomplicating my lessons to compensate for the anxiety I felt about not being qualified enough to take on this new role. When I expressed this to Professor <a href="/kim-faber" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="3bf3f95e-4137-447b-bead-d8b75fce5941" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Kim Faber">Kim Faber</a>, the founder and head of the SITES program, she reassured me it was okay to feel nervous and trial and error was all part of the process. Through this conversation, I realized my biggest obstacle to becoming a confident teacher wasn’t a lack of qualifications, but self-doubt. <br><br>This moment speaks to the solid and unwavering support I’ve received from professors and mentors throughout my time at ��سԹ� to pursue all of my interests, often in spite of initial hesitation. Later on, when I was first considering applying for a Fulbright, the award’s prestige was intimidating. My friends, family, and several of my professors encouraged me to apply, even when I questioned whether I was qualified for such a competitive opportunity. I’m so grateful for the community at ��سԹ� that has consistently encouraged me to pursue opportunities that genuinely excite me.</p><hr><p><em>If you’re a rising or graduating senior interested in Fulbright, connect with </em><a href="/node/4526"><em>Fellowships & Awards</em></a><em> to learn more about pursuing research or an arts project, obtaining a graduate degree, or teaching English in a foreign country of your choice following graduation.</em></p><p> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The English and politics double major will work as an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) at a teacher-training institution. </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-05-29T12:00:00Z">Fri, 05/29/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Maya McDermott '26 has earned a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Argentina for the 2026-2027 academic year. At ��سԹ�, the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/english" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="1407c1dc-ec04-4a04-bf44-267ef8c9c4e1" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="English">English</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="40fd290a-5375-4595-9b23-da92a8bf29d7" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Politics">politics</a> double major took part of the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/resources-and-support/sites" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="f836a21e-8e31-4d3a-b4df-16641967c0fd" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Spanish in the Elementary Schools">Spanish in the Elementary Schools</a> (SITES) program, where she taught Spanish to students in various grade levels at ��سԹ� Elementary School, as well as preschoolers at the Kendal Early Learning Center. McDermott also worked as a tutor for elementary Spanish courses and taught a baking class called SweetsCo through the ��سԹ� Experimental College.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3831">Fulbright</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4080">Fellowships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/english" hreflang="und">English</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tommy Chen</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Derya Taspinar '25 Earns Fulbright to Spain</h1> <p>dfrezza — Wed, 20 May 2026 18:50:23 +0000</p> <span>Derya Taspinar '25 Earns Fulbright to Spain</span> <span><span>dfrezza</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-05-20T14:50:23-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 20, 2026 - 14:50">Wed, 05/20/2026 - 14:50</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Share with us what you will be doing next year in Spain.</strong><br>From September 2026 to June 2027, I’ll be in Galicia, Spain, as a <a href="/news/oberlin-celebrates-years-fulbright-winners" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="b8a20a4f-3b1b-4ee9-8d92-315bcfa3703a" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="��سԹ� Celebrates This Year’s Fulbright Winners">Fulbright </a>English Teaching Assistant (ETA). I’m really excited to be working in a plurilingual school, where I’ll collaborate with teachers and support students as they learn English. Beyond the classroom, I’ll also be involved in a couple of community projects, giving me the chance to connect more deeply with the local community and take part in cultural and language exchange outside the classroom.</p><p><strong>What are you looking forward to the most?</strong><br>I’m really excited about the whole experience! I can’t wait to live and work in a region of Spain I’ve never been to, and be immersed in its history and culture. I’m also really looking forward to meeting new people, learning from different perspectives, and growing from those experiences. At the same time, I’m excited to share what I know - helping others learn English and improving my Spanish along the way. Being able to learn and give back at the same time is what makes this feel especially meaningful to me.</p><p><strong>How did ��سԹ� shape or influence you to pursue the Fulbright?</strong><br>��سԹ� played a huge role in shaping my decision to pursue Fulbright. I always knew I loved traveling and connecting with people from different cultures. Through my psychology courses, and my own experience being bilingual in English and Turkish, I already understood how important language learning can be. It wasn’t until I took Language Pedagogy 301 with Professor <a href="/kim-faber" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="3bf3f95e-4137-447b-bead-d8b75fce5941" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Kim Faber">Kim Faber</a> that everything really came together.</p><p>Through that class, I joined <a href="/arts-and-sciences/resources-and-support/sites" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="f836a21e-8e31-4d3a-b4df-16641967c0fd" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Spanish in the Elementary Schools">SITES</a> and taught Spanish to kindergarten and first-grade students twice a week. Seeing how quickly they picked up the language was so rewarding. I also learned about the cognitive benefits of language learning at a young age, such as improved executive functioning and greater empathy for people from different backgrounds. While I had done some English tutoring in Spain before, it was through SITES that I learned concrete teaching strategies that motivated students while staying in the target language. That experience really solidified my interest in language education and cross-cultural exchange, and it’s what ultimately inspired me to apply for Fulbright.</p><p><strong>How does pursuing the Fulbright align with your post-college life and career goals?</strong><br>Being a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant is an incredible and meaningful opportunity for me right now. This experience will allow me to work closely with youth in multicultural and multilingual settings while developing skills that are essential to my future work in psychology. Teaching in an immersive environment will strengthen my communication, cultural awareness, adaptability, and ability to build trust and engagement across differences—skills that are central to working with diverse populations. After my time in Spain, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in developmental psychology, and the Fulbright experience provides an important bridge between my academic training and the kind of culturally responsive clinical work I hope to pursue.</p><p><strong>What’s the best advice you’ve received from your ��سԹ� faculty mentor?</strong><br>The piece of advice that has stuck with me the most was from Professor <a href="/cindy-frantz" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="da803d43-c805-4106-86e2-49ffcc49ae53" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Cynthia (Cindy) Frantz">Cindy Frantz</a>, chair of the psychology department. While being one of her research assistants during my senior year, she always made me feel more at ease about life after ��سԹ�. I often felt like my peers all knew what career path they wanted to take right after college, and I felt insecure about not being as certain. Professor Frantz told me about how her life post-undergrad involved many jobs that might not have aligned with her current career, but were all still helpful in getting her to where she is today. She assured me that there was no rush to “figure everything out” now, but to get different experiences, compare and contrast, and to learn more about myself and my interests along the way.</p><hr><p><em>If you’re a rising or graduating senior interested in Fulbright, connect with </em><a href="/node/4526"><em>Fellowships & Awards</em></a><em> to learn more about pursuing research or an arts project, obtaining a graduate degree, or teaching English in a foreign country of your choice following graduation.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The psychology major will be teaching English in Galicia.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-05-20T12:00:00Z">Wed, 05/20/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>As a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="382e130d-10dd-4b3d-9e0b-894ba3b1fe62" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Psychology">psychology</a> major at ��سԹ�, Derya Taspinar '25 <a href="/study-away" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="9163cd25-a90f-4576-aac0-a0d8d3818195" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Study Away">studied away</a> in Seville, Spain. Now as a Fulbright fellow, she'll return to Spain to teach English for ten months.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3831">Fulbright</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4080">Fellowships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" hreflang="und">Psychology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Joel Tang '24 Wins Fulbright Fellowship to South Korea</h1> <p>dfrezza — Tue, 19 May 2026 13:26:18 +0000</p> <span>Joel Tang '24 Wins Fulbright Fellowship to South Korea</span> <span><span>dfrezza</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-05-19T09:26:18-04:00" title="Tuesday, May 19, 2026 - 09:26">Tue, 05/19/2026 - 09:26</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>What are you looking forward to the most?</strong></p><p>Interacting with the soul of the nation, the communities that make up what Korea truly is outside of what we see through their media internationally. </p><p><strong>How did ��سԹ� shape or influence you to pursue the Fulbright?</strong></p><p>As an East Asian Studies minor, I’ve always been interested in interacting with Asia post-graduation. Also, ��سԹ�’s stellar <a href="/study-away" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="9163cd25-a90f-4576-aac0-a0d8d3818195" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Study Away">Study Away office</a> gave me the resources to learn about <a href="/news/oberlin-celebrates-years-fulbright-winners" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="b8a20a4f-3b1b-4ee9-8d92-315bcfa3703a" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="��سԹ� Celebrates This Year’s Fulbright Winners">Fulbright</a>!</p><p><strong>How does pursuing the Fulbright align with your post-college life and career goals? </strong></p><p>My goal is to become an internationally recognized singer-songwriter, and that takes cultural sensitivity and language fluency. I am pursuing this fellowship to aid in my goal of becoming a polyglot, which will help me connect to the Korean audience in ways that English may not. </p><hr><p><em>To learn how ��سԹ� can help you apply for opportunities, like the Fulbright Fellowship, visit </em><a href="/center-engaged-liberal-arts" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="068ff5e8-2a7e-4726-91b0-7d9995d4c79e" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Center for Engaged Liberal Arts"><em>CELA</em></a><em>.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The young alum from Houston, Texas, will teach English in rural communities.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-05-19T12:00:00Z">Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Joel Tang '24, who majored in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/musical-studies" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="a6dd17c3-7a04-410a-aded-9ced1afd2b4b" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Musical Studies">musical studies</a> and minored in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="96d60626-0b66-4943-8cc7-5a8834f0c0c0" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="East Asian Studies">East Asian studies</a> at ��سԹ�, received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to South Korea. He plans to teach English in rural communities and hopes to organize a poetry/songwriting club at his host school. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4080">Fellowships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3831">Fulbright</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/musical-studies" hreflang="und">Musical Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Serafina Yan</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Fulbright Fellow Amelia Friess '26 to Teach in Czech Republic</h1> <p>dfrezza — Mon, 18 May 2026 15:14:18 +0000</p> <span>Fulbright Fellow Amelia Friess '26 to Teach in Czech Republic</span> <span><span>dfrezza</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-05-18T11:14:18-04:00" title="Monday, May 18, 2026 - 11:14">Mon, 05/18/2026 - 11:14</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>What are you looking forward to the most?</strong><br>One reason I chose to apply for a <a href="https://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants/types-of-awards/english-teaching-assistant-awards">Fulbright</a> in the Czech Republic is because of the access to classical music, particularly opera. I am looking forward to meeting musicians in my community, joining a choir, attending performances, and continuing my personal vocal pursuits. It will be wonderful to be immersed in a place that has such a rich history of classical music. I hope to eventually organize a recital with local musicians involving both English and Czech music!</p><p><strong>How did ��سԹ� shape or influence you to pursue the Fulbright?</strong></p><p>��سԹ�’s exploratory curriculum and supportive professors encouraged me to pursue my aspirations with greater ambition. While I had always hoped to study abroad, I was unsure how to make that goal a reality. Through conversations with voice faculty and fellow students, I learned about the wide range of musical opportunities available in Europe. </p><p>With the guidance of my professors and support from ��سԹ�’s <a href="/career/set/internship-plus" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="9ca131a0-e476-42fe-acdc-1c7cd99a0e19" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Internship+ Program">Internship+</a> program, I participated in an opera program in Saluzzo, Italy, this past summer. This transformative experience opened my eyes to the musical possibilities in Europe and strengthened my confidence in my ability to pursue them. </p><p>In addition, ��سԹ� provided numerous teaching experiences, such as <a href="https://www.oberlinexco.org/">ExCos</a>, peer tutoring and OWLing, that not only strengthened my Fulbright application but also helped me discover my passion for teaching. ��سԹ� equipped me with the tools and encouragement to pursue a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship.</p><p><strong>How does pursuing the Fulbright align with your post-college life and career goals? </strong></p><p>Pursuing a Fulbright ETA aligns with my goals of becoming both a performer and arts educator. Through working with students in the Czech Republic, I'll gain experience planning lessons, explaining concepts, and teaching students who have different backgrounds from my own—all essential elements for a career as a music teacher. Because vocal music is often performed in foreign languages, serving as an ETA will better equip me to guide students in understanding and singing in other languages. </p><p>This will also allow me to experience music in the setting and language in which it was written, deepening my artistic understanding. I also look forward to connecting with professional musicians who can provide advice for my future career. I hope that my time in the Czech Republic will help me become a teacher that shares new musical traditions and encourages students to explore all musical styles. </p><p><strong>What’s the best advice you’ve received from your ��سԹ� faculty mentors?</strong></p><p>As I was working on my short answers and personal statement, I received feedback from family, friends and professors. My former voice professor, Kendra Colton, generously took the time to work through each draft with me. She consistently encouraged me to be honest, clear, and concise, and to seek out new adventures.</p><p>I also worked personally with <a href="/danielle-abdon" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="a0b9a24f-d7db-4538-8b15-16ac871b5857" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Danielle Abdon">Danielle Abdon</a>, the director of fellowships and awards. Her main piece of advice was to “be more specific.” I enjoyed spending every Friday eating pizza and continuing to write draft after draft. I always left meetings with her feeling more capable and prepared to submit my application.</p><p>I do not believe I would have earned this Fulbright without their kind support and dedication. </p><hr><p><em>If you’re a rising or graduating senior interested in Fulbright, connect with </em><a href="/node/4526"><em>Fellowships & Awards</em></a><em> to learn more about pursuing research or an arts project, obtaining a graduate degree, or teaching English in a foreign country of your choice following graduation.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The biology and voice major will use the award to explore education and her passion for musical performance.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-05-18T12:00:00Z">Mon, 05/18/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p> <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="2e8ca96d-493a-456b-b9b1-73583c30df0f" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Biology">Biology</a> and <a href="/voice" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="e5071540-3566-4d0f-a235-2b9e21d42f96" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Voice">voice </a>major Amelia Friess '26 has received a <a href="/news/oberlin-celebrates-years-fulbright-winners">Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA)</a> to the Czech Republic, where she will teach English at a secondary school. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3831">Fulbright</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4080">Fellowships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Nathaniel Liu</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>��سԹ� Celebrates This Year’s Fulbright Winners</h1> <p>dfrezza — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:46:39 +0000</p> <span>��سԹ� Celebrates This Year’s Fulbright Winners</span> <span><span>dfrezza</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-28T12:46:39-04:00" title="Tuesday, April 28, 2026 - 12:46">Tue, 04/28/2026 - 12:46</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>��سԹ�’s tradition as a top producer of Fulbright students continues this spring, with a dozen students and alumni being awarded English Teaching Assistant (ETA) or Study/Research (S/R) awards.</strong> These accomplished individuals will travel internationally to experience a cultural exchange that spans language, education, history, and more. </p><p>��سԹ� <a href="/fellowships">provides students with assistance in Fulbright applications</a>, which includes multiple information sessions, one-on-one meetings, access to faculty and staff experts trained to read Fulbright applications, all-day essay support in ��سԹ�’s Writing Center, and the ability to submit essay drafts for unlimited revisions.</p><p>The Fulbright Program is a distinguished academic exchange program, established by the U.S. government in 1946. Since then it has provided more than 400,000 talented students, scholars, and professionals the opportunity to advance knowledge, education practices, and industry through international exchange and collaboration.</p><p>This year’s Fulbright winners can’t wait to see what’s in store for them. </p><p>As a Hispanic studies and politics major, <a href="/news/anna-benjamin-26-earns-fulbright-teach-english-spain"><strong>Anna Benjamin ’26</strong></a> is using her fellowship to kickstart her career aspirations. “I want to be a policy analyst, specializing in education or immigration policy,” she says. “Being an ETA will bolster my knowledge of international education systems… and help me build invaluable skills to become an internationally-oriented policy maker.”</p><p><a href="/news/fulbright-fellow-amelia-friess-26-teach-czech-republic"><strong>Amelia Friess ’26</strong></a>, who graduates in May with double majors in biology and voice, looks forward to immersing herself in Czech culture: “Pursuing a Fulbright ETA aligns with my goals of becoming both a performer and arts educator. Because vocal music is often performed in foreign languages, serving as an ETA will better equip me to guide students in understanding and singing in other languages. I hope that my time there will help me become a teacher that shares new musical traditions and encourages students to explore all musical styles.” </p><p><a href="/news/joel-tang-24-wins-fulbright-fellowship-south-korea"><strong>Joel Tang ’24</strong></a>, a college music major while at ��سԹ�, will use his Fulbright award to teach English in South Korea and says he is excited to “interact with the soul of the nation, the communities that make up what Korea truly is outside of what we see through their media internationally.”</p><p><a href="/news/derya-taspinar-25-earns-fulbright-spain"><strong>Derya Taspinar ’25</strong></a> will teach English in Spain to support her career goals: "This experience will allow me to work closely with youth in multicultural and multilingual settings while developing skills that are essential to my future work in psychology. Teaching in an immersive environment will strengthen my communication, cultural awareness, adaptability, and ability to build trust and engagement."</p><p><a href="/news/ariana-ofori-26-earns-fulbright-switzerland"><strong>Ariana Ofori ’26</strong></a> is set to work with students who have completed apprenticeships and help them hone their language skills for their careers. "I am especially excited to share my passion for teaching amongst my students, encouraging curiosity and fostering a space for lifelong learning," she says. </p><p>In addition to teaching English in Taiwan, <a href="/news/momo-song-suzuki-20-earns-fulbright-english-teaching-assistantship" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="9d049751-ab0f-46ca-9950-02853e65349c" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Momo Song Suzuki ’20 Earns Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship"><strong>Momo Suzuki '20</strong></a> is excited to get to know students and become "a part of the community in many ways," they say. "I want to volunteer on farms and learn ancestral agricultural practices, talk to elders at farmers markets, and learn more about regional cooking."</p><p><a href="/news/maya-mcdermott-26-earns-fulbright-argentina" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="360e786f-055e-40c8-a0f6-0fdc65966a1c" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Maya McDermott '26 Earns Fulbright to Argentina"><strong>Maya McDermott '26</strong></a> hopes this fellowship will help prepare her for a new chapter in graduate school: "With Fulbright, I hope to deepen my understanding of how a different country approaches issues such as education, governance, and social equity."</p><p>Congratulations to all of the the Fulbright fellows from ��سԹ�:</p><p>Anna Benjamin ’26, ETA (Spain)</p><p>Nissa Berle ’24, S/R (Canada)</p><p>Katia Chapin ’26, S/R (European Union)</p><p>Lucas Daley ’26, S/R (India)</p><p>Amelia Friess ’26, ETA (Czech Republic)</p><p>Nathaniel Liu ’26, ETA (Taiwan)</p><p>Ariana Ofori ’26, ETA (Switzerland)</p><p>Eleanor Richards ’26, ETA (Madagascar)</p><p>Dalia (Andy) Roshal ’26, ETA (Germany)</p><p>Momo Suzuki ’20, ETA (Taiwan)</p><p>Joel Tang ’24, ETA (South Korea)</p><p>Derya Taspinar ’25, ETA (Spain)</p><p>Maya Miller '26, S/R (Ireland)</p><p>Thorin Finch '26, S/R (Ireland)</p><p>Sophia Cartsonis '24, ETA (Taiwan)</p><p>Maya McDermott '26, ETA (Argentina)</p><p><em>Note: This story will be updated as further details are released. </em></p><hr><p><em>Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors, and the world. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit </em><a href="https://www.fulbrightprogram.org/"><em>fulbrightprogram.org</em></a><em>.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Congratulations to the 16 students and alums who have been awarded Fulbright Fellowships to learn and teach abroad.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-04-28T12:00:00Z">Tue, 04/28/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Danielle Frezza</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4080">Fellowships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3831">Fulbright</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Ariana Ofori '26 is one of this year's Fulbright English Teaching Assistant awardees.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Abe Frato</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-50533" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-cont-img-section paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <div class="image-grid image-grid--single-caption pull"> <div id="obj-50532" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-image-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="image-row"> <div class="image-row__images" data-cols="2"> <div id="obj-50530" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-figure paragraph--view-mode--default"> <figure> <figcaption> <div class="figure__caption"><p>Amelia Friess '26</p></div> <div class="figure__credit"><p>Photo credit: Nathaniel Liu</p></div> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div id="obj-50531" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-figure paragraph--view-mode--default"> <figure> <figcaption> <div class="figure__caption"><p>Joel Tang '24</p></div> <div class="figure__credit"><p>Photo credit: Serafina Yan</p></div> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="obj-50927" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-image-row paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="image-row"> <div class="image-row__images" data-cols="2"> <div id="obj-50926" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-figure paragraph--view-mode--default"> <figure> <figcaption> <div class="figure__caption"><p>Derya Taspinar '25</p></div> <div class="figure__credit"><p>Photo credit: Fairlyn Decker & Hazel Livingston</p></div> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div id="obj-50928" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-figure paragraph--view-mode--default"> <figure> <figcaption> <div class="figure__caption"><p>Anna Benjamin '26</p></div> <div class="figure__credit"><p>Photo credit: Abe Frato</p></div> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Paris Mercurio ’23 Earns Fulbright to Romania</h1> <p>mreed — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 15:29:33 +0000</p> <span>Paris Mercurio ’23 Earns Fulbright to Romania</span> <span><span>mreed</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-09-10T11:29:33-04:00" title="Wednesday, September 10, 2025 - 11:29">Wed, 09/10/2025 - 11:29</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p id="docs-internal-guid-68b22c78-7fff-aa85-2436-7875aa646287">The Scotch Plains, New Jersey, native previously received a Fulbright to the Czech Republic, but spent the last two years as a <a href="https://www.shansi.org/paris-mercurio-bio">Shansi Fellow</a> to Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. </p><p>As part of the fellowship, she leads English speaking and academic writing lectures and tutorials for undergraduate first-year English Literature majors, as well as an elective creative writing class, she says. </p><p>“About halfway through my first year of Shansi, I knew that I really enjoyed what I was doing at the university, and I wanted to find a way to keep building upon my experience in a new context,” Mercurio explains. “The role of a Fulbright ETA in Romania is very similar to my current role, and I’m excited to continue teaching college students.”</p><p><strong>How does pursuing the Fulbright align with your post-college life and career goals? </strong></p><p>One of my biggest goals upon graduating from ��سԹ� was to live abroad and learn about cultures and parts of the world that I had yet to experience. After two years of getting to know Indonesia, I’m excited to move to a region that I’ve never visited before and take on the challenges that come with that.</p><p><strong>Where specifically will you be doing—and what are you looking forward to the most?</strong></p><p>I will be assisting the faculty and helping to provide English language education to students at Ovidius University in Constanta. I am really excited to be doing my Fulbright in a country with such a deep, multilayered, multicultural history. </p><p>Constanta in particular is such an exciting city. It’s one of the oldest cities in Europe, with a wide range of cultural influences, historically having been ruled by several empires and part of various other countries over the centuries. I have also been exploring the very interesting literature and music emerging from Romania, and I am very eager to explore those scenes in person. </p><p><strong>How did ��سԹ� influence you to pursue the Fulbright?</strong><br>I owe so much of my current path to the faculty, staff, and students I met during my time at ��سԹ�. Beyond the obvious, that the Shansi Fellowship is an option open only to ��سԹ� alumni, I had so many experiences at ��سԹ� that set me on this journey and subsequently reaffirmed my aspirations. </p><p>Getting to participate in the Writers in the Schools program my senior year was one of my most valuable and fulfilling learning experiences, and I still find myself constantly coming back to the teaching skills I developed through my residency at Langston Middle School, where I taught poetry to seventh grade students. I feel like I unlocked so many powerful ideas and tools through the experience that continue to inspire and motivate my teaching. </p><p><strong>What’s the best advice you’ve received from your ��سԹ� faculty mentors?</strong> </p><p>It was an informational interview with Assistant Professor of Creative Writing <a href="/elizabeth-rogers">Elizabeth Lindsey Rogers ’07</a> during my third year that initially sparked my interest in pursuing a Shansi Fellowship, as professor Rogers is a Shansi alum herself. As her TA, I got to observe her classroom presence and watch how she guides lessons and discussions, which was hugely helpful to me in developing my own teaching style and flow. </p><p>While I was working on my Fulbright application, I had a conversation with the creative writing department’s chair, Emily Barton, that has really stuck in my head. She spoke about how a necessary part of the writing process is just living life and taking lots of notes. I definitely feel like I’ve been doing a lot of living these past couple years, and perhaps I’ve been a little less laser-focused on serious writing than I had initially intended. </p><p>Post-graduation, it sometimes feels like there’s this rush to just get wherever you’re supposed to go. Professor Barton’s words served as a needed reminder that creative work often operates on its own timeline, and sometimes being too tightly wound or single-minded can be counterintuitive to the process. The process is the whole point.</p><hr><p><em>If you’re a rising or graduating senior interested in Fulbright, connect with </em><a href="/node/4526"><em>Fellowships & Awards</em></a><em> to learn more about pursuing research or an arts project, obtaining a graduate degree, or teaching English in a foreign country of your choice following graduation.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The Shansi Fellow and creative writing major will be teaching English.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-09-16T12:00:00Z">Tue, 09/16/2025 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p id="docs-internal-guid-815486ce-7fff-6546-a092-787c298e4402">Paris Mercurio ’23, who majored in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/creative-writing">creative writing</a> and minored in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies (GFAS)</a>, has earned a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Romania for the 2025-2026 academic year.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After ��سԹ�</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3831">Fulbright</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25326">Creative Writing</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/creative-writing" hreflang="und">Creative Writing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/gsfs" hreflang="und">Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Paris Mercurio</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Fulbright Fellowship Takes Amelia Huntsman ’25 to Kazakhstan</h1> <p>dfrezza — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 19:08:40 +0000</p> <span>Fulbright Fellowship Takes Amelia Huntsman ’25 to Kazakhstan</span> <span><span>dfrezza</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-07-17T15:08:40-04:00" title="Thursday, July 17, 2025 - 15:08">Thu, 07/17/2025 - 15:08</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr"><strong>How did ��سԹ� shape or influence you to pursue the Fulbright?</strong></p><p dir="ltr">Without ��سԹ� and the particular professors of the REEES department I really don’t think this would have been the path I pursued at all. I was originally a creative writing student; I didn’t intend to focus so much on international relations. I took Russian 101 with Professor Tom Newlin, and then his class on the culinary culture and history of the post-Soviet sphere, which allowed me to merge my new interest in language and culture with my existing academic interest in politics and history. That merger forms the basis of what the Fulbright is: a cross-cultural exchange that allows nations to build deeper academic and political ties. Even so, I probably wouldn’t have applied to the Fulbright if I hadn’t been brought into ��سԹ�. It felt way too big and important and distant to even try. I decided to apply when a friend of mine received a Fulbright grant after working with Danielle Abdon, director of fellowships and awards. That office made it feel a bit more attainable and approachable, and so I decided to give it a shot. </p><p dir="ltr"><strong>How does pursuing the Fulbright align with your post-college life and career goals? </strong></p><p dir="ltr">Fundamentally, the best way to understand a place and its people is to go there and meet them, so a full year of living and working in Kazakhstan with other Kazakhs outside of the bubble of being a student at university is quite unique… It’s a dream of mine to be able to work in the <a href="https://afsa.org/"><u>Foreign Service</u></a>.</p><p dir="ltr"><strong>What’s the best advice you’ve received from your ��سԹ� faculty mentor?</strong></p><p dir="ltr">I got a piece of advice from <a href="/vladimir-ivantsov"><u>Vladimir Ivantsov</u></a>, assistant professor of Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian Studies, a few years ago on a final project. We were trying to read and analyze short stories in my Russian class and I had chosen a particularly tricky one. What Professor Ivantsov told me to do was to stop working on it, stop annotating, and just to read. If I took out a dictionary for every unfamiliar word in the text I would never finish the project in the time allotted. I had to just find the words I knew and accept the pieces I was missing. I could go back through and fill in my gaps later, but right then I needed to move ahead with what I had and try to make the most of it. It really forced me to reconstruct how I was approaching assignments where I knew I was missing the necessary toolkit, and to stop obsessing over minutia I couldn’t solve and focus on putting together what I could. </p><p dir="ltr"> </p><p dir="ltr"><a href="/fellowships"><em><u>Connect with Fellowships & Awards</u></em></a><em> to learn more about the opportunities available to students.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The recent graduate will begin her career by experiencing a new culture.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-07-17T12:00:00Z">Thu, 07/17/2025 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>As a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian"><u>Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian Studies</u></a> (REEES) major, recent grad Amelia Huntsman is excited to begin her Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) in Central Asia. “This opportunity to work in Kazakhstan and learn how to approach cultural exchange effectively is invaluable,” she says. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4080">Fellowships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3831">Fulbright</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pull-images field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">No</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amelia Huntsman</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-42457" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <style> @media screen and (min-width: 769px) { .top-combo .top-combo__container { grid-template-columns: 2fr auto; } } </style> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Amelia Bronfman ’24 Earns Fulbright to Colombia</h1> <p>azaleski — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 20:42:34 +0000</p> <span>Amelia Bronfman ’24 Earns Fulbright to Colombia</span> <span><span>azaleski</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-07-31T16:42:34-04:00" title="Wednesday, July 31, 2024 - 16:42">Wed, 07/31/2024 - 16:42</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Amelia Bronfman ’24 has earned a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Colombia for the 2024-2025 academic year. The <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/geosciences" target="_blank">geosciences</a> major, who’s from Cambridge, Massachusetts, will be teaching English in Neiva and embarking on a community service project teaching children about the conservation of local birds. “I am excited to meet new people, improve my Spanish, and hone my teaching skills,” she says. “Knowing I had the support of my faculty, friends, and teammates helped me to take chances, dive deeply into learning, and have the confidence to take this next step.”</p> <p><strong>How did ��سԹ� influence you to pursue the Fulbright?</strong><br> Three influential professors at ��سԹ�—professor of geosciences <a href="/zeb-page" target="_blank">Zeb Page</a>, associate professor <a href="/angie-roles" target="_blank">Angie Roles</a>, and associate professor of geosciences <a href="/amanda-schmidt" target="_blank">Amanda Schmidt</a>—inspired me to study the sciences, believe in myself, and prepared me to apply to the Frontiers Abroad Program in New Zealand. This travel was a transformative learning experience for me in so many ways. I learned new methods and approaches to science as well as the value of cross-cultural exchange in learning. I was hooked! Then these same professors, as well as the amazing Danielle Abdon, encouraged me to apply for the Fulbright.</p> <p><strong>How does pursuing the Fulbright align with your post-college life and career goals?</strong><br> I am going in with an open mind to learn as much as I can. That said, spending a year immersed in teaching English to college students and bird science to children aligns with my general goals to engage in environmental science education and to participate in cross-cultural exchange. </p> <p><strong>What’s the best advice you’ve received from your ��سԹ� faculty mentors?</strong><br> They said it better than these quotes, but I am representing it as best as I can!<br> <br> Zeb Page told me, “Don’t worry about what other people are doing. If you put your best foot forward, you will succeed,” and “Whatever you choose will be wonderful in its own way.”<br> <br> Angie Roles: “You should believe in yourself because you have a lot to believe in.”<br> <br> Amanda Schmidt: “Look around and pay attention to your environment. The world itself will give you its answers.”<br> <br> Pat Sturges: “Keep breathing and rocking on.”</p> <p><strong>Activities in which you were involved at ��سԹ�: </strong>Varsity tennis team; arts and sciences orchestra and chamber group (clarinet); Mudd circulation desk; America Reads; junior year abroad in New Zealand through Frontiers Abroad.</p> <p><em>If you’re a rising or graduating senior interested in Fulbright, <a href="/fellowships" target="_blank">connect with Fellowships & Awards</a> to learn more about pursuing research or an arts project, obtaining a graduate degree, or teaching English in a foreign country of your choice following graduation.</em><br> </p> <p><br> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The geosciences major will be teaching English and the conservation of local birds.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-08-07T12:00:00Z">Wed, 08/07/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3831">Fulbright</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/geosciences" hreflang="und">Geosciences</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Amelia Bronfman ’24 has earned a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Colombia for the 2024-2025 academic year.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Kadrian Hinton</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Phoebe Brown ’24 Earns Fulbright to Spain</h1> <p>mreed — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 18:22:40 +0000</p> <span>Phoebe Brown ’24 Earns Fulbright to Spain</span> <span><span>mreed</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-06-06T14:22:40-04:00" title="Thursday, June 6, 2024 - 14:22">Thu, 06/06/2024 - 14:22</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Phoebe Brown ’24 has earned a <a href="/node/467299">Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship</a> (ETA) to Spain for the 2024-2025 academic year, giving her the opportunity to teach English in an early education school in the Canary Islands. “I have never been to Spain – let alone the Canary Islands – so I am very excited to venture there and learn more about the diverse culture of the Canaries,” says the <a href="/node/79086">biology</a> major, who earned minors in <a href="/node/3206">Spanish</a> and <a href="/node/70706">dance</a> and had concentrations in <a href="/node/322311">global health</a> and <a href="/node/25226">education studies</a>. “I’m also looking forward to teaching and applying what I have learned at ��سԹ� while exploring new teaching methods at the local primary schools.”</p> <p><strong>How did ��سԹ� influence you to pursue the Fulbright? </strong></p> <p>I realized that the teaching and mentoring opportunities built into ��سԹ�’s curriculum set up students well for grants such as Fulbright. Like many ��سԹ� Fulbright grantees before me, my language teaching began through a program started by <a href="/node/5831">Kim Faber</a>: <a href="/node/166296">Spanish in the Elementary Schools</a> (SITES). As part of SITES, I took a Language Pedagogy course, which explores various pedagogical techniques and provides students with a groundwork of language through phonetics, culture, and bilingual education. I attribute much of my interest in language teaching and learning to that class and SITES, as they gave me plentiful opportunities to draft lesson plans, teach, reflect, and try again!</p> <p>I am also grateful to have taken many wonderful Spanish courses at ��سԹ�. I took Elementary Spanish I, taught by Kim Faber on Zoom during my freshman year, mainly to fulfill my diversity credit. Despite the online class, this was the first time I realized that language learning could be fun; it spans more than grammar and conjugation charts! Whether I knew it then, I think that experience planted the seed for my interest in (language) pedagogy and encouraged me to continue taking Spanish language classes within the <a href="/node/3206">Hispanic studies department</a>. </p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Photo Credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</figcaption> </figure> <p>One of my other biggest mentors throughout my four years has been <a href="/node/6546">Holly Handman-Lopez</a>. Aside from my studies, I love to <a href="/node/70706">dance</a>! Holly is one of those professors who endlessly cheers you on and advocates for you from the start. She is someone who has contributed significantly to my growth as an artist, as she has overseen many of the dance-related projects I have been involved in. </p> <p>I recently took a Dance Pedagogy course with <a href="/node/6581">Alysia Ramos</a>, and I realized there is much overlap between teaching a language and dance. Both involve breaking down steps, memorizing patterns, and figuring out ways to communicate. I love watching Holly and Alysia apply this in their teaching; having such skilled mentors has been wonderful. Dance — and the support I’ve received from the ��سԹ� dance environment — are things I hope to bring with me abroad! </p> <p><strong>How does pursuing the Fulbright align with your post-college life and career goals?</strong></p> <p>I plan to work in healthcare as a nurse or a physician assistant. I think the core of Fulbright is breaching cultural barriers, which is an essential part of working in health. A huge part of <a href="https://vimeo.com/878790928">being a healthcare worker</a> involves being a compassionate patient educator. Being a part of the Fulbright program will allow me to understand what being a compassionate educator means — and how that can be applied across many disciplines.</p> <p><strong>What’s the best advice you’ve received from your ��سԹ� faculty mentor?</strong></p> <p>Take advantage of ��سԹ�’s expanse of activities. Don’t be afraid to take the random courses that sound exciting, but don’t fit into your major. You never know what you might learn; don’t be afraid to be curious.</p> <p><strong>Activities Phoebe was involved in at ��سԹ�:</strong> Co-founded and co-presided the Adopted Obies Club; <a href="/node/62401">Ballet ��سԹ�</a> Teacher; <a href="/node/451852">Vibe Dance Company</a> Member; <a href="/node/10251">SITES </a>Instructor (2022-2023), <a href="/node/10701">OWLS </a>Clear Mentor (2023-2024).</p> <hr> <p><em>If you’re a rising or graduating senior interested in Fulbright, connect with <a href="/node/4526">Fellowships & Awards</a> to learn more about pursuing research or an arts project, obtaining a graduate degree, or teaching English in a foreign country of your choice following graduation.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The biology major will be teaching English in an early education school in the Canary Islands.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-07-11T12:00:00Z">Thu, 07/11/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3831">Fulbright</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4796">Hispanic Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/holly-handman-lopez" hreflang="und">Holly Handman-Lopez</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/kim-faber" hreflang="und">Kim Faber</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/alysia-ramos" hreflang="und">Alysia Ramos</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/hispanic-studies" hreflang="und">Hispanic Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/dance" hreflang="und">Dance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Conner Wyman ’24 Earns Fulbright to Paraguay</h1> <p>elutes — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 19:55:15 +0000</p> <span>Conner Wyman ’24 Earns Fulbright to Paraguay</span> <span><span>elutes</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-07-09T15:55:15-04:00" title="Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - 15:55">Tue, 07/09/2024 - 15:55</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Conner Wyman ’24 has earned a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Paraguay for the 2024-2025 academic year. The <a href="/node/76401">politics</a> and <a href="/node/70776">history</a> double major, who’s from Old Lyme, Connecticut, will be based in the capital city of Asunción, teaching English classes and leading cultural events at the National University of Asunción. “Specifically, I will be working at the Thomas Edison American Corner, which offers free English language instruction and cultural programming to the public through the National University of Asunción and the United States embassy in Paraguay,” he says. “I am most looking forward to the opportunity to explore and learn more about Paraguay!”</p> <p><strong>How did ��سԹ� influence you to pursue the Fulbright?</strong><br> I became interested in teaching English as a second language after taking a course with <a href="/node/451101">Larissa Fekete</a>, ESOL 401: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The course gave me the opportunity to learn a ton about the process of teaching English and helped inspire a love of teaching and language learning.</p> <p>Pairing an interest in teaching with my politics and history coursework on Latin America also seemed natural. By taking Latin American politics courses with Professor of Politics <a href="/node/6251">Kristina Mani</a>, I had the opportunity to learn more about the political systems, social movements, and international politics of Latin America. These courses have inspired me to want to learn more about Latin America and travel there through the Fulbright program.</p> <p>Finally, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Havana, Cuba, in fall 2023. While there, I served as an English language tutor at the University of Havana, an experience that helped me gain valuable skills like teaching English and improving my Spanish-speaking skills. The opportunity to study abroad helped me develop a love for travel, new experiences, and adventures, which made Fulbright an attractive opportunity after graduation! (I also completed a Winter Term project researching civil rights in Modern Cuba.)</p> <p><strong>How does pursuing the Fulbright align with your post-college life and career goals?</strong><br> As a history and politics major, Fulbright presents an incredible opportunity to gain a better understanding of Paraguayan culture and become fluent in the Spanish language. I also hope to gain additional teaching experience through the program which I can apply in my post-college life. I'm not exactly sure what I want to do yet after Fulbright, but am thinking about teaching or potentially pursuing a graduate degree in political science.</p> <p><strong>What’s the best advice you’ve received from your ��سԹ� faculty mentor?</strong><br> "When writing something, always break it down into manageable chunks and proceed from there!" </p> <p><strong>Activities Conner was involved at ��سԹ�</strong>: ��سԹ� Arts & Sciences Orchestra; ��سԹ� Arts & Sciences Chamber Collective; ��سԹ� Club Tennis Team. Politics honors program with Professor <a href="/node/6216">David Forrest</a>, focusing on the environmental movement in the United States.</p> <hr> <p><em>If you’re a rising or graduating senior interested in Fulbright, connect with <a href="/node/4526">Fellowships & Awards</a> to learn more about pursuing research or an arts project, obtaining a graduate degree, or teaching English in a foreign country of your choice following graduation.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The politics and history double major will be teaching English classes and leading cultural events.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-07-09T12:00:00Z">Tue, 07/09/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3831">Fulbright</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>