The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs. This unique exchange program is designed to increase mutual understanding between people of the United States and the people of other countries. During their grants, Fulbright students participate in a cultural exchange as they live with and learn from their host communities. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program operates in over 160 countries and annually offers over 2,000 grants.
View the Fulbright Grantee Directory for a comprehensive list of scholars. The UW is proud to have scholars as far back as 1949!
Definitions of Fulbright Statuses
Fulbright Semi-Finalist: applicants who are recommended by the National Screening Committee to the host country for further review.
Fulbright Alternate: applicants who may be offered a Fulbright grant if additional funding becomes available.
Fulbright Finalist: applicants who have been offered a grant, but have not yet accepted their award and started their program.
Fulbright Student: official Fulbright grant recipients after offer has been accepted.
2022-2023 Undergraduate/Bachelor’s Alumni Finalists & Alternates (2023 Fulbright year)
Class of 2023, Environmental Science and Resource Management major
I am a non-traditional student with a background that reflects “just try it all.” After high school, I enlisted in the Airforce and served as a weather forecaster for four years. When my enlistment ended, I wanted to see what else was out there and moved to the PNW to pursue environmental science at UW. I gravitated towards the outdoors and desired a meaningful job protecting our ecosystems against climate change. Throughout my time at UW, I’ve been fortunate to assist in conducting field research around the Olympic Peninsula and freshwater lakes around the greater Seattle area. With my graduation date rapidly approaching, I still felt I didn’t have a clear direction for my post-graduation plans. Fulbright appealed to me since it offered an international experience to shake things up in my life and gain a new, valuable perspective on the world. I have always felt connected with South Korea, as I grew up with numerous South Korean cousins-in-law and connected with the culture when I struggled with my own. Conducting an ETA in South Korea offers an experience to continue my Korean practice, connect with cultures outside of the US, and learn more about South Korea’s efforts in the climate sector. I strongly believe in edge dwelling by working in a challenging space where two independent domains meet. Bridging environmental work between the United States and South Korea creates a stage at the edge of two different cultures, where contrasting ideas and experiences can interact, challenge one another, and ultimately create new, innovative ideas.
Jessie’s near and long-term goals: My near-term goal is to become proficient in the Korean language, experience cultures outside of my own and gain skills in international relations. I plan to pursue higher education in either environmental or atmospheric sciences with the goal of working at international programs like the Korea-United States Air Quality Study through the US EPA.
Jessie’s tips for future applicants: My biggest advice/tip is that it is never too late to apply and create a competitive package. Speaking from Fulbright experience, people have been known to prepare for 8+ months but that shouldn’t discourage you if you are starting late to the game. It may be a tighter timeline, but once you fully commit to it, it can still be done! Everyone’s experiences are unique so don’t compare yourself to others and put down your own achievements because imposter syndrome can be very real when applying to Fulbright.
Class of 2023, International Studies &Finnish majors
In June I will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Finnish and International Studies from the University of Washington. My studies have been influenced by my love for the Finnish language and culture as well as my passion for human rights. During my undergraduate career, I have had the opportunity to complete a semester abroad in Lyon, France, study Nordic Justice on a study abroad program in Sweden, and complete a task force capstone project that focused on countering the rise of the far-right movement in Europe. Additionally, I am the founder and outgoing president of the women’s club ice hockey team at the University of Washington, a process which began freshman year when I discovered that there were no opportunities for women to play ice hockey here at UW. I now plan to continue my studies in Tampere, Finland, where I will work towards a Master’s of Social Sciences in Peace, Mediation, and Conflict Research. Finland is the perfect place to study peace research, having recently joined NATO while sharing an 832-mile long border with Russia. I am excited to watch Finnish mediation skills in action while having the opportunity to put my Finnish language skills to use. I also plan to continue to play ice hockey in Finland to immerse myself in Finnish culture and foster intercultural interactions with my teammates.
Mia’s near and long-term goals: After my Fulbright grant, I plan to complete the second year of my master’s program in Tampere and graduate with a Master’s of Social Sciences in Peace, Mediation, and Conflict Research. I then hope to either work for a nonprofit or NGO in Finland or return to the US to join the US foreign service.
Mia’s tips for future applicants: Start early! It’s a lot of work, but find your why and use that to motivate you throughout the process.
Class of 2023, Comparative History of Ideas major
I am graduating with a major in the UW’s Comparative History of Ideas Department (CHID), and am also an Interdisciplinary Honors student. As a Fulbright fellow, I’ll be studying with the Department of Yiddish Culture, Language, and Literature at the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, Germany. This exciting opportunity will allow me to bring my learning from the University of Washington to a new academic setting. As a CHID student, I am completing an honors thesis on representations of human relations with natural landscape in Moyshe Kulbak’s Soviet-Yiddish novel “Zelmenyaner.” Working with Dr. Sasha Senderovich in the Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures as my advisor, I’ve had the chance to dive deep into literary analysis and investigate historical interactions between language, nature, Jewish identity, and discourses of modernity. I was motivated to apply for a Fulbright fellowship as a way to integrate my passion for language, travel, and cultural studies into my academic career. In Germany, the histories of Jewish and Yiddish studies as academic disciplines are shaped by a unique set of historical circumstances. Studying in this environment will give me access to a new and distinct perspective on my current area of research. Being based in Düsseldorf also gives me proximity to cities on the Rhine river like Speyer and Worms whose medieval Jewish history has been recently recognized as UNESCO World Heritage. I’ll have the opportunity to bridge my study of Jewish relationships with natural and built environments into visits to archaeological and other Jewish historical sites within Germany. After I return to the United States, I’m hoping to continue on to graduate studies working with Yiddish and other Jewish languages. Research on texts in historically marginalized European languages such as Yiddish sheds light on the region’s long history of multiculturalism and religious diversity, one that extends to life in urban spaces as well as into the rural landscape.
Auden’s near and long-term goals: Following my year in Germany, I plan to begin an MA program in Digital Studies of Language, Culture, and History at the University of Chicago. Afterwards, I hope to continue on to a PhD, where I’ll be able to build on my interdisciplinary interests in cultural history, memory, and language.
Auden’s tips for future applicants: Take advantage of the resources available through UW! The OMSFA is there to help you through the process.
Class of 2021, Educational Studies: Elementary Education major, UW Bothell
My name is Jennifer Ha and I am a current in-building emergency substitute teacher for an elementary school within the Seattle Public School district. I am a teacher candidate who graduated from University of Washington Bothell in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Educational Studies with the focus in Elementary Education. I applied for the Fulbright Student Scholarship as a English Teacher Assistant in hopes of learning more strategies to further support my future multilingual students and be in their shoes of learning a new culture, language, and society that’s different from home. I am bubbly and supportive of guiding my students to achieve their best in school. In my free time, I like to watch anime, read webtoons, and eat with my family and friends.
Jennifer’s near and long-term goals: I would like to be an elementary classroom teacher 🙂 I would say I am near my goal by being involved and constantly learning each day how to be a better teacher.
Jennifer’s tips for future applicants: Lots of patience and perseverance! Build your resume by being involved with your local community and the youth.
Class of 2023, Medical Anthropology & Global Health major
I am a graduating senior majoring in Medical Anthropology & Global Health with honors and minoring in Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies. Throughout my undergraduate career at the UW, I conducted anthropological research under the mentorship of UW Anthropology Professor Dr. Rachel Chapman. Within my research, I centered the voices of Black women who have been historically harmed by academic health research as I explored “How the Historical Archetypes of Black Women Influence Aid Distribution in the Greater Seattle Area.” Additionally, I employed my research and academic interests in student government, where I served as the ASUW Director of Campus Partnerships and ASUW Director of Programming. Traveling to Botswana as an English Teaching Assistant and experiencing a culture where Blackness is appreciated in its entirety, will be transformational. I will never forget the impact Black representation has had on my academic career, and I imagine having a similar impact as a teacher. Undertaking an English teaching assistant position in a predominantly Black space would grant me the platform to deny limiting beliefs often impressed on the Black community while also deepening my appreciation for Black culture as my engagement and participation in the community illuminate the beauty of Botswana.
Kennedy’s near and long-term goals: I will continue my education at the University of Chicago’s Masters in Sociology program. Following that, I will pursue a Ph.D. in Sociology with a concentration in public policy to continue community-based advocacy research. My research will center the voices and experiences of the Black community as I aim to work toward decriminalizing poverty while also eradicating the experience of intergenerational poverty in the Black community.
Class of 2023, Political Science & Environmental Studies majors
Lillian Williamson is a senior majoring in political science and environmental studies with interdisciplinary and departmental honors at the University of Washington, where she is the 2019-2021 Mary Gates Honors Scholar and a 2022 Husky 100 awardee. She will be graduating Phi Beta Kappa in Spring 2023. Her studies and advocacy work focus primarily on the intersection of civil rights, environmental justice, and public policy. At the UW, she is the Student Body Vice President, is co-founder and managing editor of The Historical Review (UW’s undergraduate history journal) and serves as the President of the Young Democrats. Outside of school, she is a Commissioner with the City of Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Commission and lobbies for improved behavioral health services with the Washington Health Care Authority. In addition, she is a board member at the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education network of Washington. In her spare time, Lillian loves to spend time outdoors and with animals. Lillian’s commitment to education, environmental literacy in youth, and broad-based stakeholder engagement inspired her to seek nomination for the Fulbright. She hopes to combine her passion for teaching with her drive for language learning and youth-centered environmental policy through a Fulbright grant in Spain.
Lillian’s near and long-term goals: Inspired by her work in policy creation at the state level and advocacy on stakeholder-driven environmental issues, she plans to pursue a law degree with a focus on environmental law.
Lillian’s tips for future applicants: 1: Shoot your shot, and don’t let yourself get intimidated. Your odds are always better than you think! 2: Ask for feedback from a variety of sources. It’s best to get a good mix of people who know you well and those who don’t–ask your instructors, OMSFA, mentors, classmates, and your family and friends. But, above all else, go with your gut. 3: Start your application early, and edit it often. My first draft was almost nothing like my final draft–don’t be afraid of big edits if they feel right!
Three UW undergraduate students were also named alternates and six UW graduate students/alumni were named finalists.
2021-2022 Undergraduate/Bachelor’s Alumni Finalists & Alternates (2022 Fulbright year)
Class of 2021, History major
I studied History and Education, Learning, and Societies at the University of Washington. I love working with kids and hope to continue my career as in education. While at UW, I have had the opportunity to stretch my thinking about what education encompasses and take classes on everything from Comparative International Education to Education Psychology. This year I had the opportunity to complete a teaching residency at University Child Development School in a first and second grade classroom. My experiences in the classroom have continued to fuel my growing passion for equity, community, and sustainability in education. I am excited to continue growing as a teacher during my Fulbright year in Spain. I applied to Fulbright because I was excited to immerse myself in a different education system in order to step outside of the educational context I grew up in. Outside of school, I enjoy cooking, reading, and camping.
Bryn’s near and long-term goals: In the near future I hope to lead my own classroom. One day I hope to go back to school to get a Masters and/or a Ph.D in education.
Bryn’s tips for future applicants: Edit, edit, edit, and meet regularly with advisors. It is a long haul, but it is worth it.
Class of 2019, Microbiology and Public Health-Global Health majors
I completed my Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health-Global Health and Microbiology in 2019 at the University of Washington. My undergraduate studies were defined by my curiosity of infectious diseases. My freshman year I, along with a team from Amigos de las Americas, worked with Profesora Analiliana of the Universidad del Norte in Colombia to conduct a door-to-door survey of childhood vaccination rates in the community of Salgar. This experience fed my interest in global health and infectious disease culminating in my senior public health-global health project analyzing antibiotic resistance in communities affected by inequality and my senior microbiology thesis on production and characterization of a novel influenza nanoparticle vaccine.
After graduation, I continued to research novel protein nanoparticles and potential vaccines at the Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington. My work initially focused on new protein nanoparticle development and continued work on the novel influenza vaccine, however, my focus immediately switched with the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. Since then, we have developed a novel SARS-CoV-2 protein nanoparticle vaccine that just completed Phase III clinical trials and is awaiting regulatory approval. Our gears have now shifted to how we can prevent the next coronavirus pandemic and we are currently focused on developing a universal coronavirus vaccine.
My cumulative experiences have guided me to the position I am in now, as a Fulbright Scholar. During my Fulbright grant, I will be studying the immunological effects of a unique respiratory syncytial virus vaccine at the Karolinska Institeut in Stockholm.
Marcos’ near and long-term goals: After my Fulbright grant, I hope to apply to MD-PhD programs to pursue my goal of becoming a physician-scientist. My hope is to continue research on novel vaccines that address health disparities and emerging pathogens.
Marcos’ tips for future applicants: Pick a project and mentor unique to the country and that can highlight your past experiences while also building upon them.
Class of 2022, Linguistics, Speech and Hearing Sciences, Germanics majors
In June I will graduate with a B.S. in, speech and hearing sciences and a B.A. in linguistics and Germanics. Outside of the classroom I have enjoyed playing rugby with the UW women’s rugby club and double bass in the campus Philharmonia Orchestra. I decided to apply for the Fulbright ETA program to gain more experience working with youth on communication and language skills that will help me in my intended career as a audiologist or speech language pathologist.
Miah’s near and long-term goals: After Fulbright I would like to return to the PNW and attend grad school. From there, I hope to work in the field of speech language pathology or audiology.
Miah’s tips for future applicants: Feedback, feedback, and more feedback
Class of 2016, Drama Performance and Comparative History of Ideas major
Simon Tran is a storyteller, actor and cultural producer who identifies as a proud first-generation Vietnamese American. The son of Vietnamese refugees, Simon learned his family’s story of escaping Vietnam while in college, which directed him on a path to amplify the complex and oftentimes hidden narratives of and within the Vietnamese community.
As a student, Simon studied Drama Performance and the Comparative History of Ideas with a minor in Diversity, fusing his passion of live performance with his hunger for challenging and re-envisioning complex ideas, structures, and perspectives. While at the University of Washington, Simon co-founded a social justice sketch comedy group, studied memory, political violence, and art politics in Lima, Peru, traveled to the U.S. South to learn about the Civil Rights movement, and authored a senior thesis on intergenerational and interracial relationships in the LGBTQIA+ community as a Mary Gates Scholar. After college, Simon moved to Chicago and produced community-driven events at WBEZ (Chicago’s local NPR station), The Moth, and ProPublica. He also participated in the Community Leaderships Corps program through the Obama Foundation. As a performer, he’s told stories and performed improv comedy across Chicago.
As a Fulbright Scholar, Simon will work as an English Teaching Assistant in Vietnam, applying his theatre, public radio, and community-centered pedagogy to embolden and equip young students to use English as a tool for self-expression, reflection, and community building. Simon hopes to gain proficiency in Vietnamese during his time in Vietnam, as well as the opportunity to produce creative programming and events that give young students and underrepresented communities new experiences and perspectives for them to thrive in their personal and professional futures. After his Fulbright year, Simon plans to continue to support the intersection of community-building, storytelling, and social change directly in Vietnamese American and BIPOC communities.
Simon’s near and long-term goals: My near-term goals are to become proficient in Vietnamese, gain more experience as a teaching artist, and continue to produce Asian American stories on a local level. My long term-goals are to pursue a graduate degree in the arts/non-profit/humanities, produce Asian American stories on a national level, and create a collective/non-profit that focuses on empowering and equipping young artists of color.
Simon’s tips for future applicants: Your story is your most important weapon. How are you articulating it? How have you reflected on it? How are you using it to strengthen not only your application but your purpose? Knowing your story better helps others understand who you are better. And when it comes to actually writing your essays, make sure to be open throughout the process. If you’re smart, you’ll ask for feedback on it from many people. You’ll get so many edits and it’ll be really frustrating at times! But you don’t have much room to convey your story, so be sure to really think about what is most important in the space given to you. Sometimes that means getting over your own ego.
Class of 2022, International Studies and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures majors
Noah Gruenert is a Double-major in International Studies and Near Eastern Languages & Civilization, with minors in Mathematics and Russian, who will graduate in 2022. He was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship for 2022-23 to teach in Tajikistan, a country he was drawn to after studying Persian there with the Critical Language Scholarship in 2019. Using his Persian and Russian language skills, Noah hopes to be a dedicated and inspiring English teacher, to bring new opportunities to students abroad, and to pay it forward to young minds, as all the hardworking instructors who taught him those languages did for him.
Noah’s near and long-term goals: Noah is looking to apply his language-oriented and culturally perceptive skillset to a career abroad, to foster mutual understanding.
Noah’s tips for future applicants: You might be surprised by the opportunities offered for a country that is less popular. Of course you want to choose somewhere you are excited about, but if making an impact is the most important to you, and you feel you could do that really anywhere, I encoruage you to seek out somewhere that others might not be considering! Then, throw your heart into the application and really show how you would cherish the chance to make a difference! Being yourself is key!
Give it a shot!
One additional finalist and three alternates were also named this year.
History of UW Undergraduate Semifinalists, Alternates, Finalists, and Fulbrighters
2020 - 2021
Class of 2021, Public Health-Global Health major
I am currently studying Public-Global Health at UW and also pursuing a writing minor. Research has become an integral part of my life which drove me to apply for the Fulbright scholarship. As an Indian American, I believe my Fulbright journey will provide me an incredible experience where I will be able to not only conduct my own research but also explore my Indian roots. The skills and knowledge that I gain from Fulbright will continue to remain applicable as I pursue my career goals of becoming a physician researcher. Aside from school, I love baking, playing basketball, taking pictures, and watching CUT videos!
Neha’s near and long-term goals: I plan on applying to medical school this year to pursue my medical degree along with an MPH to continue my health equity research on a global scale. Additionally, I hope to one day work for CNN to be a medical correspondent and help bridge the disconnect between the general public and scientific community.
Neha’s tips for future applicants: Talk to Emily and Robin!!!! I had weekly and even biweekly meetings with Emily since April to prepare for this app. Also, be open and flexible to change as you work through your proposal and don’t be afraid to ask for help from peers, professors, and mentors!
Class of 2021, International Studies major
I am an undergraduate student majoring in international studies with a focus in human rights as well as triple-minoring in Spanish, Portuguese, and Hellenic Studies. I currently am spending my time working for Teen Feed a local non profit that serves homeless youth and as a legislative intern for the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. I have always loved language learning. Teaching and tutoring English is an act that brings me great joy and I feel honored to be chosen as a Fulbright Semi-finalist for the Brazilian ETA program.
Sophia’s near and long-term goals: Currently, I am set to graduate this winter and will continue on working with both Teen Feed and the Alliance for Gun Responsibility.
Sophia’s tips for future applicants: It can be a tricky application but don’t be discouraged! It will take many drafts but it is absolutely doable. Also, Emily is so helpful!
Class of 2021, International Studies and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures major
I am a recent International Studies and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations graduate with a minor in European Studies. During my time as an undergraduate, I was fortunate to have the ability to study Arabic, Persian, German, and Spanish, as well as complete an honors thesis on the influence of migration and multicultural identities on rap and hip-hop in Germany and the UK. I am currently an English language teaching assistant in Seville, Spain, with the Auxiliares de Conversación program administered by the Spanish Ministry of Education, as well as volunteer English tutor at a migration nonprofit. I hope to continue my language training and research on integration and multiculturalism within migrant communities in Europe, using an interdisciplinary approach that blends humanities with the social sciences at Oxford or London School of Economics.
I draw my urgency from the rise of political regimes on both sides of the Atlantic that have tried, with terrifying success, to unravel long-standing immigration, asylum and refugee laws. As many politicians threaten the future of migration and declare multiculturalism as a policy failure, it is now more important than ever to understand the unique identities 1st and 2nd generation migrants to Europe. I feel a deep sense of responsibility as an American to use my voice and my knowledge to help reframe the question of migration, not as an external problem, but as an internal, humanitarian problem.
Kayla’s near and long-term goals: After my time in Spain, I hope to either continue my English teaching assistantship experience in Germany as a Fulbright awardee or start graduate school. I’m currently in the process of applying to several different graduate programs both in the US and in Europe that would allow me to continue my passion for studying languages and my research on multiculturalism within migrant communities in Europe.
Kayla’s tips for future applicants: Start early and use your network of professors, advisors, and friends, they are all eager to help you! Don’t get discouraged by being “behind” on applications and most importantly—don’t self sabotage!
Class of 2016, Drama Performance and Comparative History of Ideas major
Simon Tran is a storyteller, actor and cultural producer who identifies as a proud first-generation Vietnamese American. The son of Vietnamese refugees, Simon learned his family’s story of escaping Vietnam while in college, which directed him on a path to amplify the complex and oftentimes hidden narratives of and within the Vietnamese community.
As a student, Simon studied Drama Performance and the Comparative History of Ideas with a minor in Diversity, fusing his passion of live performance with his hunger for challenging and re-envisioning complex ideas, structures, and perspectives. While at the University of Washington, Simon co-founded a social justice sketch comedy group, studied memory, political violence, and art politics in Lima, Peru, traveled to the U.S. South to learn about the Civil Rights movement, and authored a senior thesis on intergenerational and interracial relationships in the LGBTQIA+ community as a Mary Gates Scholar. After college, Simon moved to Chicago and produced community-driven events at WBEZ (Chicago’s local NPR station), The Moth, and ProPublica. He also participated in the Community Leaderships Corps program through the Obama Foundation. As a performer, he’s told stories and performed improv comedy across Chicago.
As a Fulbright Scholar, Simon will work as an English Teaching Assistant in Vietnam, applying his theatre, public radio, and community-centered pedagogy to embolden and equip young students to use English as a tool for self-expression, reflection, and community building. Simon hopes to gain proficiency in Vietnamese during his time in Vietnam, as well as the opportunity to produce creative programming and events that give young students and underrepresented communities new experiences and perspectives for them to thrive in their personal and professional futures. After his Fulbright year, Simon plans to continue to support the intersection of community-building, storytelling, and social change directly in Vietnamese American and BIPOC communities.
Simon’s near and long-term goals: My near-term goals are to become proficient in Vietnamese, gain more experience as a teaching artist, and continue to produce Asian American stories on a local level. My long term-goals are to pursue a graduate degree in the arts/non-profit/humanities, produce Asian American stories on a national level, and create a collective/non-profit that focuses on empowering and equipping young artists of color.
Simon’s tips for future applicants: Your story is your most important weapon. How are you articulating it? How have you reflected on it? How are you using it to strengthen not only your application but your purpose? Knowing your story better helps others understand who you are better. And when it comes to actually writing your essays, make sure to be open throughout the process. If you’re smart, you’ll ask for feedback on it from many people. You’ll get so many edits and it’ll be really frustrating at times! But you don’t have much room to convey your story, so be sure to really think about what is most important in the space given to you. Sometimes that means getting over your own ego.
2019 - 2020
Class of 2020, International Studies; Education, Communities & Organizations majors
I am a recent UW grad who double majored in Education, Communities & Organizations and International Studies with a minor in Asian Languages and Cultures. I am also a first generation Mexican-American who grew up in Yakima, WA. While studying at the University of Washington, I became aware of the benefits of multiculturalism and multilingualism that exist within communities and sought opportunities to improve my language skills. My bilingualism not only nurtured but fueled my passion for language learning. Now I am a polyglot who speaks fluent English and Spanish and conversational French and Korean.
While studying French in high school, I had the wonderful opportunity to study abroad in France for two weeks which ignited my drive for cross-culture experiences. And two years ago, after studying abroad in South Korea for 6-weeks, I discovered some similarities between Korean culture and my hybrid Mexican-American identity and decided I wanted to pursue proficiency in Korean. This in combination with my interest in education, specifically multicultural and multilingual education, led me to apply for the Fulbright Program.
Interning for the past year at OneWorldNow!, a non-profit after school program for youths based in Seattle, showed me that working for organizations that provide under-represented youths with accessible language learning and study abroad opportunities is something I would like to continue to do in the future. In the meantime, as a South Korea ETA I want to build on my experience as an educator as well as improve my proficiency in Korean.
Senior, International Studies major
I recently completed a year abroad studying Russian Language and Eastern European Studies in Daugavpils, Latvia as a Boren Scholar for the 2019-2020 cycle. My time as an undergraduate student at the University of Washington has been shaped by my interest in Eurasian studies, specifically Russia and its reemergence as an influential global power. With my mentor Dr. Jessica Beyer, I worked on two projects for Microsoft with a team of other undergraduates and, as a Mary Gates Scholar, I conducted independent research on disinformation. In addition to research, my interests led me to study Russian language and to attain proficiency in Russian through course work at the University of Washington, a summer in Moscow as a FLAS Scholar, and my recent experience in Latvia as a Boren Scholar. As Fulbright Scholar, I will spend nine months in Moldova conducting research on the effects of disinformation and misinformation on opinions towards Moldova’s integration in the European Union and Eurasian Economic Union. Upon completion of my project in Moldova, I plan to pursue a masters in Eurasian Studies with a focus on the Russian Federation’s interaction with other post-Soviet countries. After completing a masters, I want to become an FSO to use my strong command of the Russian and French languages, my culturally immersive experiences in post-Soviet countries, and my deep knowledge of Eurasian studies to implement realistic policy that incorporates not only economic concerns but also historical, cultural, and religious factors.
Conor’s tip: I think the two most important things are to get your recommenders involved early on in the process and to ask yourself why you would like to do a Fulbright. Around January, I began thinking about which country I would want to go. I chose to apply for a Fulbright to explore topics I had been exposed to through course work and research at the UW. I knew that a Fulbright would be an excellent why to explore these topics further through research while I also improved my Russian language and cross-cultural skills. This interest in my proposed research project made it much easier to write my materials and make a strong argument.
Class of 2019, Atmospheric Sciences major
Joshua is a recent graduate of the Atmospheric Science department. While at the University of Washington, they were awarded a Mary Gates Undergraduate Research Scholarship and a Washington NASA Space Grant, and held an internship position at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Joshua is currently applying to PhD programs that utilize big data and machine learning to solve environmental and economic problems.
Joshua’s tips: Start writing and getting feedback on your application early, focus on a different portion of your application or a different essay each week, and go to the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards information sessions and workshops!
Class of 2016, Biochemistry major
I graduated from UW in 2016 and am currently in process of applying to graduate schools for counseling! I applied for a Fulbright ETA in Thailand because teaching is something that is meaningful to me and Thailand is a place that is close to my heart.
Priscilla’s tip: In any application, I think allowing your real self to shine through is important. Write your personal statement to share your story and experiences.
Class of 2017, Biology major
Dani hails from Pebble Beach, CA where she grew up learning to love hiking through the beautiful California terrain. She chose UW to find a new challenge for herself, but knew throughout the process how she wanted to study Biology. Biology brought comfort and satisfied her curiosity for the world while the Interdisciplinary Honors program allowed her to expand her knowledge base and make lifelong friends in the process. She also studied abroad in Tanzania, one of her favorite experiences, which intrigued her to the world of ecotourism and community versus government aid. She would like to pursue a career surrounding studying and working in Disaster Relief and is currently working in Fremont.
Danielle’s tip: Reach out! I reached out to people who applied and got in to the country I applied for- both on linkedIn and in real life- and it was so helpful to talk through the process.
Class of 2015, Industrial Design major
Miles is a designer and craftsman living on occupied Coast Salish and Duwamish land. Miles leverages his skillset in product design, woodcraft, and design research to develop tangible solutions that empower people to reconnect with our natural world. His professional experience has shown him that our pursuit of short-sighted “progress” often endangers our future descendants’ wellbeing. This understanding has driven his deep dive into sustainable methods of traditional design and craft that are rapidly being forgotten.
After graduating from the UW Divison of Design, Miles worked with the Industrial Designers Society of America and led the production of a film shining light upon empowering design for an international design conference. In 2015, his team received an International Design Excellence Award for their work on the Naloxone Drug Overdose Rescue Kit. Between 2015 and 2017, Miles worked with Yoshihara Furniture Company to design and craft heirloom furniture for private, residential, and commercial clients. This work honed skills in computer-aided design, manufacturing, and wood technology while expanding his focus beyond form and function to sustainable and regenerative production methods. At the Taoist Studies Institute, Miles assisted with the design and build of architectural features on their 30-acre forested campus. There he began to learn about lineages of traditional design and craft that ingeniously address issues of ecology and sustainability.
As a Fulbright Fellow, Miles is researching the indigenous innovations and modernization of traditional Korean residential architecture, design, and craft. Korean homes, known as Hanok (“Hahn-oak”), build in harmony with nature to develop sustainable structures that promote the wellbeing of inhabitants and surrounding land. A deep well of knowledge has been developed through the craft of Hanok but lacks representation and utilization in the international community. Miles will critically investigate the craft techniques and design thinking of modern Hanok while learning about natural materials and sustainable production ecosystems. Leading experts at the National University of Cultural Heritage in Buyeo, South Korea, and architecture firm Urban Detail in Seoul, South Korea, are supporting and overseeing this research.
Miles’ tips: Focus upon answering the “why” as soon as possible, then drill down on the logistics of “how.” The true value of the proposal will be obvious if you begin with an honest evaluation of communal benefit and personal enrichment. This will demonstrate your genuine intent to the people and organizations that will make the “how” possible. Next, forget “never” or “impossible.” You will inevitably encounter discouraging or disinterested parties, sidestep them and find the people and organizations who will empower the proposal. Still encountering issues? Hit the ground running and travel to the host country and meet face to face. Demonstrate your passion and respectful diplomacy. This will show your dedication and determine if there is a good fit for all parties involved. If you make every effort to remove as much doubt from the proposal as possible, you will have no regret or wonder about whether you did enough to craft the strongest application possible.
Class of 2017, Drama & Communication major
Michael is a UW Alumni, having graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Drama and Communication. In addition to academics, Michael was an active member of the theatre community on campus. Serving as Publicity Director for the Undergraduate Theater Society, an actor in over ten productions, and stagehand in countless others, he rounded out his education with work onstage and behind the scenes. While studying he was also, at times, a member of UW’s Gospel Choir, Theta Chi Fraternity, and Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Since studying abroad in the UK, Michael’s dream has been to further his training with Classical work in London. It is his hope, that with the Fulbright Award, he will round out his contemporary training with intensive conservatoire craftwork, connect with local community-based theatre projects, and embed himself within the international and British cohort at LAMDA.
Michael’s tip: Separation is in the Preparation! And in the revisions. And in the clarity!
Senior, Neuroscience major
I am a senior majoring in neuroscience and minoring in music. Outside of school, I conduct research on pediatric chronic pain at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, and am currently working on a meta-analysis on the prevalence of chronic pain in young adults.
Raised in a Lebanese-American household, I grew up in the midst of the sociopolitical issues plaguing Lebanon and its neighbors, and have witnessed the physical and mental trauma experienced in war-torn and displaced communities. I have volunteered as a tutor in Lebanon at SOS Children’s Villages, an international organization dedicated to providing homes, families, and other resources to abandoned or orphaned children, some of whom, within the Lebanese village of Bhersaf, are victims of the Syrian refugee crisis. I have also performed as a pianist and singer at fundraiser concerts in the Bay Area for SOS.
Through these experiences, and my coursework in neuroscience and UW’s Interdisciplinary Honors Program, I have gained initial exposure to the neurophysiological study of trauma and current trends in global health and migration. This exposure has inspired a passion for researching trauma in vulnerable displaced populations. Specifically, I am interested in pursuing graduate study in medical anthropology in order to study the nexus between mental health, displacement, culture and politics within the Middle East. I hope to combine my studies of medical anthropology with my future medical school pursuits in order to not only effectively treat vulnerable communities, but to also provide research that informs global health policy-making for systemically neglected displaced and migrant populations.
Sacha’s tip: Take the time to reflect on your experiences, and make sure to pursue studies that you are deeply passionate about. That makes the application process so much more personal and exciting. And never hesitate to reach out for help from your professors and advisors for help and advice on personal statements and finding the right programs for you!
Class of 2019, Integrated Social Sciences major
I am an artist, a leader and a lifelong teacher who is fueled by challenge and creative collaboration. I have spent time in different types of classrooms throughout my academic journey, acting as a student and a teacher, and oftentimes both. I worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District for two years before I finished my degree through the University of Washington’s Integrated Social Sciences (ISS) online program. Beyond the classroom, my passion is expressed in communication, storytelling and, above all, finding ways to connect with people.
Senior, Biochemistry major
As a Vietnamese-American growing up in a predominantly Caucasian community, I struggled with self-acceptance. My internal conflict stemmed from a lack of a sense of belonging among my peers. In university, I became exposed to an environment with greater diversity, and I discovered that being “different” opens a door of learning opportunities. At first, my curiosity drove me to learn about my friends’ cultures and customs. Then, I became determined to seek discomfort by experiencing unfamiliar customs first-hand. As a result, I have been fortunate to work abroad in Germany as well as study abroad twice in Santiago, Chile, and Singapore.
I am eager to teach English in Vietnam because I want to expand opportunities and empower students from my parents’ native country. From my experiences in a variety of leadership and mentorship programs, I discovered my passion for teaching and personal growth. I am ecstatic to evolve my skills as a teacher and to become a cultural ambassador for Vietnamese youth. In addition, this opportunity has immense personal value to me. Over the years, I learned to embrace the beauty of my Vietnamese heritage. I took the initiative to take language courses, understand the history of Vietnam, full of suffering and resilience, and truly empathize with my parents’ experiences as refugees after the war. This upcoming year will be full of growth as I connect with my roots.
After my Fulbright grant, I intend to pursue a career in medicine as a pediatrician. My time spent in university has been comprised of diverse volunteering, research, cross-cultural, work, and academic experiences. These opportunities have shaped me into an individual determined to serve patients at their most vulnerable state, promote community health and sustainable living, and improve health accessibility for underrepresented communities. From this Fulbright ETA opportunity, I am confident that my curiosity will lead me to actively engage with local communities and expand my knowledge through meaningful dialogue. Determined to seek out discomfort, I intend to expand my cultural competency and communication skills with diverse communities in preparation for a career in medicine.
Catherine’s tips: Utilize your resources! I highly encourage staying connected with Robin/Emily and reaching out to Fulbright alumni for advice and feedback! Also, be intentional in your writing and country selection. Prior to starting my application, I self-reflected quite a bit and I deeply considered why I wanted to pursue an ETA grant and why specifically in Vietnam. After that, I reflected upon my previous experiences and personal interests that led me to apply for the Fulbright grant. This process definitely allowed me to create a strong argument as to why I should be selected for a Fulbright and how I was genuinely passionate about this opportunity. The last tip, while revising your application, definitely reach out to family, friends, or mentors to read over your essays to make sure that your character and authenticity truly shines through in your writing.
Class of 2019, Public Health major
I am a recent graduate from the University of Washington School of Public Health. I plan to pursue graduate studies in Epidemiology to address health inequality locally and internationally and hope to focus my work on mental illness, agricultural injustice, generational trauma, non-communicable disease development, and disability among underserved communities. Due to globalization, international experience is becoming increasingly vital to public health professionals in order to address the public health threats of the future. This Fulbright position will give me experience working in an international setting with diverse populations and improve my skills at a language commonly spoken by underserved populations within my own community. The belief that we cannot allow our vision to be limited by our means attracted me to the field of public health and it is here where I found a passion and career in which I could use my strength, creativity, and perspective to work towards equality, both locally and globally.
Lincoln’s tip: Don’t doubt yourself.
Senior, Bioengineering major
The disparities I observed during medical shadowing prompted me to understand how socioeconomic, political, and technological factors impact healthcare. To do so, I learn about medical advancements and their broader social implications at UW Seattle. My time at UW has been defined by the communities I entered: bioengineering, research, and journalism. Learning within these networks, I gained skills that inadvertently led me to the most rewarding leadership opportunities. I have been an undergraduate researcher under Dr. Paul Yager, whose lab develops inexpensive diagnostic tests for low-resource settings. Here, I develop imaging tools for our lab’s devices using smartphones. The research independence I gained here motivated me to accept a leadership role in a global health organization, Bioengineers without Borders, designing a dehydration monitor. Likewise, writing for the science and health + wellness sections of The Daily, UW’s student-led newspaper, led me to diverse perspectives in healthcare through interactions within the broad UW community. I have had the opportunity to speak with the most impressive and inspirational Huskies. Through these experience, I understood the importance of applying evidence-based decision making and critical thinking in global health settings, recognizing interventions will only be successful with thoughtful consideration of the context, individuals, and current workflows. Bioengineering provided me the opportunity to leverage my comprehensive research background, commitment to improving medical access for diverse groups, and bridge a passion for technology, medicine, and global health. The professional, personal, and academic development experiences UW offered me has started my journey to a lifetime of work devoted towards improving the health of diverse communities.
Vidhi’s tip: Take advantage of the resources at the scholarship office! You want to make sure that people who have written/reviewed such grants and are unexperienced in your field review your proposal because it provides unbiased feedback.
Senior, Bioengineering major
As a Bioengineering major, I started at the University of Washington determined to contribute to medicine. Since a few months into my first year here, I have been researching in the global health-oriented Woodrow Lab, which has confirmed my desire to pursue a career focusing on international health, likely infectious disease. I started taking Portuguese classes during my second year, primarily motivated by the uniquely welcoming culture I experienced while traveling in Brazil with my father as an eighth grader to visit his old exchange family. Since then, my motivation for learning Portuguese has shifted towards integrating it, and what I have learned from studying it, into my work. My language studies have shown me the importance of researchers being able to communicate with the different communities they work in, improving my perspective as a researcher. While studying for two months in São Paulo, I noticed that my ability to speak Portuguese surprised and opened a door to connection with each person that I talked with. Returning to Ribeirão Preto as a Fulbright student would allow me to make connections in the community and in the laboratory, where my focus would be using genetic sequencing to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis by decreasing the time needed to make clinical decisions about treatment. To continue conducting similar work, I ultimately plan to attend medical school and specialize in infectious disease – a field where research collaboration with Brazil will remain important and the connections I would build as a Fulbright student relevant.
Sarah’s tip: Get started with your drafts early, and get feedback on complete drafts from the advisors as soon as possible.
Senior, Psychology major
Katie is currently a senior majoring in psychology at the University of Washington. She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. In her future work, Katie’s aim is to support families by examining factors that enhance or hinder family functioning and child development, with an eye toward disadvantaged populations. She hopes to build on this understanding by developing and enhancing feasible, affordable interventions that will buffer disadvantaged families from negative health outcomes.
Katie’s tip: While this process my push you outside of your comfort zone, there are many benefits! This includes reaching out to new contacts, learning skills of collaboration, and honing in on your critical thinking, writing skills, and personal story. And along the way, the advisors at the OMSFA office are willing to help throughout! Be willing to put in a good amount of work, but it’s worth it!
Class of 2019, Finnish Language & Cultural Studies, Political Economy majors
I grew up in Seattle, and my mom is from Finland. I was able to speak Finnish as a child, but I never has Finnish citizenship nor lived in Finland at any point in time. It wasn’t until I went to the University of Washington (UW) that I had an academic interest in Finnish. During my time at UW, I cultivated a focus in European politics through my Finnish language and political economy majors. I knew that in the long-term, I wanted to further develop my Finnish language comprehension and look deeper into European and global politics. The Scandinavian Studies Department is a unique asset that we have at UW, and I knew it would be challenging to find the right Finnish/political economy master’s program that I wanted in the U.S. As a result, I applied to do a Fulbright in Finland with Tampere University’s Leadership for Change master’s program, where it focuses on EU, Northern European and EU-Russian relations. This Fulbright to Tampere allows me to continue to develop my academic interests, while also sharing my Finnish-American background with other students as a representative from the U.S. Moreover, this Fulbright grant helps me better achieve my goals in working in an international organization (IGO). I would like to work for United Nations or North Atlantic Treaty Organization in some capacity, and the skills that I will gain from this experience abroad will give me a specialized, transatlantic approach in helping the U.S. better its decision-making within IGOs.
Iris’ tip: Ask for help and listen to all of the feedback that you get! Applying for a grant/scholarship is a completely different process from other applications. You have to show why you are the perfect candidate for that specific grant. By getting advice from your recommenders, professors and scholarship advisors on how to show that, you will be better prepared for navigating this process successfully.
Class of 2020, Environmental Studies major
I am a senior majoring in Environmental Studies, and minoring in Danish, and Urban Design and Planning. Growing up in the Inland Northwest, I have always been passionate about protecting our natural resources in the face of growing environmental concerns. My time at UW has revolved around addressing environmental injustice and ensuring that environmental topics are communicated in culturally relevant ways. The education I received has given me both a toolkit to address environmental issues moving forward in my career, while also exposing me to some unexpected interests.
I had the opportunity to study abroad in Greenland and Denmark, which opened my eyes to the realities of Arctic climate change and proved the importance of interdisciplinary engagement and cross-cultural understanding when addressing complex global challenges. The environmental field has historically had a tendency to not integrate the knowledge or needs of the local communities whose ecosystems they study, and this sentiment was expressed to me from locals while in Greenland. As someone passionate about climate justice and cross-cultural communication, I wanted to find a way to return to Greenland, and better connect with Arctic communities, leading me to pursue a minor in Danish.
Learning a foreign language as an adult has been both a rewarding and challenging process. My experience has inspired me to help others as they learn English, and I hope that I can use my Danish skills and teaching experience to serve the local community of Nuuk as a Fulbright ETA. Serving as an ETA in Greenland would allow me to not only use the skills I have developed through college to assist the local population, but would also give me the chance to better engage with the communities I met on my study abroad, which is an invaluable learning opportunity for my future career in Arctic and environmental policy.
Lela’s tip: My main advice would be to both start your application as early as possible, but also use the amazing advising resources we have on campus. The Fulbright application process can be intimidating, so it is important to stay motivated, and there are many people who want to help you succeed.
Class of 2020, Public Health & Spanish majors
I am from Southern California and grew up in a predominantly Latinx neighborhood. Because of my mixed race, many people assumed I was Latina and spoke Spanish to me on a daily basis. As a result, I began learning the language in middle school and eventually fell in love with it. A few years later, I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata, a hair loss disease. This condition introduced me to the world of healthcare because I tried a million and one treatments to stop my hair from falling out. However, after two strenuous years, I lost all my beloved hair but gained an intense passion for all things health related. In college, I decided to pursue a double major in two fields I absolutely love: Public Health and Spanish.
Throughout my four years, I have narrowed my academic focus to minority health. As a woman of color, I feel a strong urge to help bridge the gap in healthcare access amongst marginalized communities, predominantly racial minorities, and their counterpart. I work as an English as a Second Language Tutor for immigrant students at Seattle Central College, which has helped me recognize my passion for teaching as well. By volunteering here, I have realized that I want to pursue academia in the distant future. After I graduate, I intend to take all the tangible and interpersonal skills that I have obtained at the University of Washington back with me to Southern California and work on mitigating these health issues. I want to use my Spanish-speaking skills to work with the Latinx community at home, while having my public health knowledge facilitate the creation of beneficial interventions.
Chiara’s Tip: Begin the application early!
Class of 2020, History majors
I am a local student interested in the history of the Middle East and North Africa, specifically during the period of decolonization in the mid-20th Century. I’ve spent considerable time working on this period in Algeria specifically and decided to apply for the Fulbright program in order to go, engage in Algerian society, and hopefully improve my Arabic. I hope to continue studying Algeria and the region in a graduate school and will look to enter a career in the state department or through an international organization.
Bennet’s Tip: Emphasize why you want to go to the SPECIFIC place you are applying for. This will be much more compelling than just broad merits, especially considering the focus of the Fulbright program involves cross cultural engagement in your specific location.
Class of 2020, Early Childhood and Family Studies majors
Hi! My name is Jill Nakayama and I am a senior studying Early Childhood and Family Studies at the University of Washington. I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and attended Punahou School. Throughout the years, I developed a passion for working with children as I would often volunteer in preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school classrooms. As I worked with these children, I realized how unique each child is in personality, culture, background and so this lead me to want to learn more about child development and how to help all children reach their maximum potential and lead happy, healthy lives. In the future, I plan to pursue a doctorate degree in child psychology. I will use the knowledge and experience I gained to practice cultural competency in my future career as a child and family psychologist and in my daily life.
Even though my career goal is to become a child and family psychologist, my life goal would be to help create a more unified world by helping children of all backgrounds feel welcomed and supported. Hawaii and the United States as a whole is a very culturally diverse place with families that immigrate from all over the world. Adjusting to a new culture can be difficult for these families, but I hope to offer a helping hand and assist immigrant families moving to America in having a smooth transition into life here; this can even be something as small as offering to chat a little in their native language. In the end, I would love to share my story with others as they share their stories with me; even if it’s only one step towards mutual respect for different cultures, I hope that I can make a difference in motivating others to take this same step forward towards a more understanding world.
Jill’s Tip: I would suggest talking to the advisors early and learning about the scholarship so you can decide if it is the right fit for you. Throughout the application process, it was very helpful talking to the advisors for tips and also for feedback on the essays. The last tip I have is to have many different people read your written statements (ex: personal statement, statement of grant purpose, etc.). I found it extremely helpful to get feedback from several people as they all interpreted my essays in different ways and their feedback helped me to tailor it so I could convey what I wanted.
Check out the 2019 press release announcing the 2019-2020 semi-finalists!
2018 - 2019
Senior, International Studies major, Linguistics minor
I am a former Navy Linguist who is driven by the pursuit of knowledge and intercultural cooperation. I am fluent in Dari and Levantine Arabic, with an elementary proficiency in Hindi/Urdu. I have four years of experience in Army intelligence and spent one year teaching English in Afghanistan. I hope to channel the skills developed in my previous experience into a career in international diplomacy. Arabic and Farsi chose me, but Hindi is the first language that I’ve chosen of my own volition. India stands out to me for its unique role as one of the world’s top innovators, and I aspire to get to know the nation that has so deftly captured the hearts of billions of foreigners through the appeal of its cultural diplomacy. It is a country that is ancient and ambitious, and in its coexistence of so many integrated cultures it is an endless source of discovery for a future diplomat. The opportunity to serve under a Fulbright Grant in India would be an immense challenge, a learning opportunity, and a springboard onto my intended path of improving US-India relations through the facilitation of intercultural understanding.
Azelle’s tip: Ask for feedback from everyone around you, especially the scholarship advisors! In order to build a strong application, you have to get a feel for how the evaluators will see it. That means gathering as many different perspectives as possible.
Senior, UW Bothell
Hana Bloedel has been selected for a U.S. Student Fulbright grant to Estonia, where she will serve as an English Teaching Assistant. Hana completed her B.A. in Global Studies and Society, Ethics & Human Behavior, with a minor in Human Rights, in June 2018. During her time at UW Bothell, she studied abroad in London, participated in the D.C. Human Rights Seminar, and was involved in community-based courses.
After graduation she went on the Minidoka Pilgrimage to Jerome County, Idaho, to visit the site where her grandmother was incarcerated during World War II. She has since been working as a Student Success Coach with City Year Seattle through the AmeriCorps program, supporting elementary students in their growth in both social and emotional learning, and in ELA.
Hana’s tip: Believe that you can do it, think about it in advance, get advice/help with the writing process from multiple people, be genuine, do your research.
Senior, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences and Environmental Studies major, Quantitative Science minor
Rachel is broadly interested in the impacts of human manipulation of freshwater ecosystems via introduction of non-native species and altered flow regimes, and conservation approaches to these effects. She first forayed into freshwater ecology as a field technician quantifying the intermediate host dispersal of waterborne parasites in the Senegal River basin and has since expanded on this work by conducting a study on the influence of environmental variables on the success of common liver fluke, a prevalent parasite that infects humans and livestock around the globe. Her current research examines spatial patterns in angler movement derived from new fishing technologies and smartphone applications with the intention of identifying frequently-traveled pathways between lakes and reservoirs, a common vector for invasive species.
These experiences have defined Rachel’s commitment to a world in which freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem services are appreciated by all. She was motivated to apply for a Fulbright academic grant after recognizing the pivotal role anglers play in effectively managing freshwater systems. The grant would fund her proposal to study the effectiveness of lake restoration efforts spearheaded by angling clubs in Lower Saxony, Germany and ultimately inform angler-driven fish conservation practices throughout Europe. Rachel has long been connected to Germany through language – she studied German for thirteen years as a child – and the Fulbright program offers an unparalleled opportunity to synthesize her scientific and cultural interests.
Rachel’s long-term plans include graduate studies in aquatic ecology, after which she intends to pursue a career in ecological research working either in academia or for a federal resource agency. In her spare time she enjoys skiing, backpacking, fishing, kayaking, and playing the ukulele in one of the Seattle’s many green spaces.
Rachel’s tip: Incorporate edits and suggestions from the on-campus interview committee into your final essay submissions – they’re very familiar with Fulbright’s evaluation criteria and have valuable insight to offer!
Class of 2018, Civil and Environmental Engineering major
Hannah is a Civil and Environmental Engineering recent graduate applying for a Fulbright research experience in Chile. There, she hopes to test our ability to model water resources in a range of diverse climates that Chile holds. She plans on accomplishing this through applying a hydrologic and meteorological based model to three separate watersheds in the arid north, the heavily populated central region, and the pristine south. This research would be carried out through collaboration with La Católica University in Santiago. Hannah developed an interest in merging her studies in hydrology with her interest in South America after studying abroad in Chile for a semester, and partaking in undergraduate mountain hydrology research at UW through the Civil and Environmental Engineering department. She plans on partaking in the grant at the beginning of her graduate studies starting next fall, with the end goal of utilizing her Fulbright grant to not only better predict water resources globally, but also develop international relationships benefiting the scientific communities in both the U.S. and Chile. She is excited to make it as a semi-finalist, and cannot wait to see if she makes it further and gets the opportunity to carry out research she’s passionate about in a country she’s grown to love.
Hannah’s tip: Focus on establishing relationships with great mentors early on in college that will be excellent leaders and resources for letters of recommendation for scholarship opportunities.
Class of 2018, Public Health major
I was a Public Health major who focused in gender-based violence as it relates to women’s health. I interned with the Seattle City Domestic Violence Unit and became very interested in the ways that mental health plays a role in DV. Because I focused on post-conflict areas in school I thought it would be a perfect fit to combine my two main interests, and take a research approach to mental health as it applies to domestic violence in Kosovo. I hope to go back to school and either get my masters in public health or a graduate degree in sociology.
Lauren’s tip: Start early and don’t get discouraged!
Senior, International Studies and Dance major
I am a senior at the University of Washington studying International Studies and Dance. I am passionate about integrating my studies into community building. My training in gender studies, queer theory, and critical race theory from my time at the Jackson School developed my identity, values, and world perceptions. Dance is a creative outlet and platform for self-expression. On my free time I enjoy dance and improvisation in public spaces because I am present in my body and environment. I will my combine my interests in politics and arts into uplifiting the next generation of global leaders – the youth. As an educator for Americans Promoting Study Abroad and One World Now, I fostered student-centered learning environments in my classroom. I have facilitated leadership workshops for high school students from underserved backgrounds in the U.S. and abroad. I want to live in a society that gives underpriviliged students equal access to high quality education. In order to cultivate a successful democracy, we need to educate youth to make decisions with a critical lens as well as empower them to voice their opinions.
Kevin’s tip: Experiences outside of academia are invaluable. Time away from school provides insight into a well-rounded perspective on life. We are not just students, artists, athletes, professionals, etc., but, we are human beings and we should be more human.
Senior, Asian Studies and Korean major, Chinese minor
If I have learned one thing over the course of my time at the University of Washington, it is to not rush things. When I returned to the university after my year and summer abroad at Seoul National University in September 2017, I soon realized that I did not give myself enough time to prepare for graduate school applications and many other programs. Instead, I applied for and was awarded a David L. Boren Scholarship to continue studying Korean for another year in Seoul, South Korea after I finished my fourth year at the University of Washington. Continuing my studies for the fifth year gave me the extra time and confidence boost to apply for the Fulbright ETA program in Taiwan. If I become a finalist for the program then I will be returning to Taiwan to teach English for the second time. The first time being on the 2013 AID Summer volunteer program which was a blast. I hope to return to Taiwan in August and put my now nine years of Mandarin language training to the test. I plan to keep up both my Mandarin and Korean skills and apply to graduate schools in my home state of California. My goal is to apply my language skills and cultural knowledge to a career as a Foreign Service Officer.
Sarah’s tip: Go to as many scholarship info sessions or workshops as it takes to motivate yourself to start the application early and review it a thousand times over.
Class of 2014, Medical Anthropology and Global Health major
I applied to become a Fulbright ETA with the aspiration to expand my world knowledge, in turn, achieving better reflective practices in my communication strategies and the actions that I take. This process for reflective considerations includes those taken within professional roles that I hold, such as decisions that I make as an instructor or as someone who is interacting within a new community. I maintain this overarching goal because I enjoy working with others, especially with perspectives and backgrounds different than my own and have learned more about its importance throughout my career so far. I am currently a coordinator of educational programming for newly arrived youth and in this role I focus on the development of study habits to help promote self-sufficiency and confidence growth in academics. While I thoroughly enjoyed and have learned a lot from my past in roles similar to this, I realize my limitations in developing collaborative process’ necessary for creating the most effective community engagement and to be a better collaborative ally. As an ETA helping with instruction and simultaneously learning within a new environment, I can move past these barriers.
This passion to continually learn from new perspectives has also drawn me in my more personal ventures to circus arts, which I have been practicing since 2014. With this experience, I have found that being introduced to new places/communities is pretty similar to learning a skill like aerial arts. At first it can be disorienting but with what you have learned you are able to see more clearly and to build upon your newfound skill-sets with more confidence. I am excited for the experience of learning new skills as an ETA within a new culture and excited to find how this opens my mind towards future endeavors.
Brandie’s tip: If you don’t get in the first time, don’t let that finalize anything. There is always the opportunity to try again.
Class of 2017, Biochemistry and Interdisciplinary Honors
Growing up, I learned very quickly how to adapt to new environments as I spent much of my childhood traveling all over the world with my family. These experiences I had early on in my life played a significant role in the development of my deep appreciation for different cultures and diverse forms of communication. I extended this appreciation back home in Seattle by involving myself in various volunteering opportunities that allowed me to get to know the populations that made up my community, such as refugee immigrants, the homeless, and the elderly. Over time, I developed valuable longitudinal relationships with those I worked closely with, allowing me to gain an understanding of each population’s personal needs through the stories each chose to share with me.
As an aspiring physician, I have explored many facets of healthcare both as an undergraduate as well as after graduating, and it has become my passion to serve disadvantaged populations. My research, work, volunteering, and UW academic experiences thus far have shaped me into an individual committed towards improving access to vital resources, while empowering people to live sustainable lives. As a doctor I want to promote quality healthcare and improved outcomes for patients and society through research questions that are guided by civic engagement. Taking advantage of a Fulbright ETA in Thailand to use and build upon my cultural insights will continue to inform my passion for incorporating cultural awareness into patient care; and for building more equitable doctor-patient relationships so that I can better inform and empower my patients.
Currently in my gap year, I enjoy working at Ballard Swedish Hospital Emergency Department as a scribe. In my free time, I love to rock climb, play the harp, volunteer at a local nursing home, and teach English to refugee immigrants in Seattle.
Anika’s Tip: Start as soon as possible, earlier than you think you need to. UW has so many resources available for students, both in-person and online. I found it particularly helpful to periodically meet with UW’s Fulbright Advisors; they are very willing to meet with applicants and offer their advice.
Senior, English major, French Language, Sociolinguistics & Translation minor
Language learning has been a passion and interest of mine since early childhood. While I grew up 15 minutes from UW, I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend time traveling within Europe and practicing bilingual communication. This June I will graduate with a B.A. in English and a minor in French with college honors, and I hope to take my love for language to Belgium to teach English at the university level. Communication skills are a link that start with individuals but make a global impact in building empathy and global understanding.
Growing up, my family spent huge amounts of time playing in and around the mountains and natural areas of the Pacific Northwest, ultimately inspiring my passions for ecological conservation and appreciation of our wild spaces. Addressing large-scale issues like our environmental crises must be solved from an interdisciplinary standpoint, and I hope to translate my language and communication skills into a career in environmental education. Igniting students’ interest in ecology and helping them build sustainable habits into their daily lives is an important step towards instilling a preservation-focused mindset in future generations. I believe that pursuing a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship would help me take steps towards this goal by furthering my teaching skills and learning to effectively communicate across languages and cultural norms.
Currently at UW I’m completing coursework for the Interdisciplinary Honors program as well as English departmental honors. Throughout my four years I’ve been involved as a tutor with the Pipeline Project, a Peer Mentor for Honors 100, and an active member of the club ski racing team. Gaining experience in internships with Rick Steves’ Europe, SKI Magazine, and Hillel UW has helped me to gain invaluable writing and travel skills, and an unrelenting desire for adventure and new experiences.
Nola’s tip: Be yourself! Your quirks, passions, and unique interests all help you stand out in an authentic way, and help selection committees see the real you. Don’t be afraid to share what makes you special, because it might make you the best fit for the program!
Senior
Senior, Law, Societies & Justice major
I am a 4th-year students at the UW studying Law, Societies, & Justice (LSJ). While learning about inequities within our criminal justice system, I found inequity within education to be a root issue and cause of those inequities. Because of this, I am passionate about the field of Education and am continuously exploring my role within it. Through Fulbright, I hope to familiarize myself with ways other countries are able to establish more successful and equitable systems of education in hopes of generating new ideas for U.S. public schools. I am also excited at the thought of participating in a cultural exchange program.
Rodha’s tip: Talk to Emily!!!
Senior, Economics and International Studies major
Maya Sullivan is a senior hoping to apply her interdisciplinary studies to pursue a career in diplomacy. Growing up within a biracial family inspired her to seek opportunities to build bridges between cultures, rather than allow differences to tear people apart. Maya hopes to work in the international community in sustainable development, and is incredibly grateful for the great many doors the University of Washington, in particular the Jackson School, has opened for her to chase this path. Maya hopes that regardless of the specific sector of development she enters, that she will contribute to collaborative projects that highly involve the input of recipients.
Maya applied to the Fulbright research grant for the 2019-2020 cycle. The Fulbright research grant holds the potential for Maya to conduct independent economic research in Muscat, Oman, allowing her to understand more deeply the obstacles for economic diversification and development. Maya hopes to present policy recommendations based on her research for how best to achieve economic diversification in Oman. If she were lucky enough to be awarded the grant, Maya hopes to spend a year in Oman learning more about Arabic culture and language, in addition to its economy. Based on her experience after her Fulbright year, Maya hopes to either work for a development NGO or think tank for a couple years before pursuing a Master’s degree. In the long run, Maya aspires to have the opportunity to enter the public service and help continue to break down barriers for more women of color to enter roles of leadership in the government.
Maya’s tips: Start early, enroll in the online class for Global Fellowships, and work closely with the advisors! Emily was so helpful to me, even though I wasn’t able to meet in person.
Senior, International Studies major
Binh is an immigrant from Vietnam majoring in International Studies with a focus on foreign policy, diplomacy, peace and security. Binh’s research interest is in communication between different political parties and the difference between policy and what happens on-the-ground. They are currently completing their Honor’s Thesis on political memes during political flash points. Other research projects includes a partnership between the Applied Research Program and Microsoft on threats to democratic processes.
Applying to the Fulbright Combined grant for ETA and Research is the best of both worlds as they can impact students’ learning while researching the impacts of social media on democracy and political organization of youths. Growing up in a diverse neighborhood nurtured a curiosity in different cultures and people which inspired them to become a Foreign Service Officer in Public Diplomacy. They seek to learn more about cross-cultural communication and exchange on the Fulbright Program. And of course, further developing themselves as someone that will represent America, as diverse a country as it is. When Binh is not researching or working, they can be found eating and/or reading. Binh is proud of their ability to do both simultaneously while walking.
Binh’s tips for future applicants:
Be clear in your intentions and focus of the Fulbright! Envision yourself there and ask why are you going? And more importantly, why does it matter?
Senior, UW Tacoma
Senior, UW Tacoma
Senior, International Studies: Comparative Religion and Psychology major
Regan is a senior studying Psychology and International Studies: Comparative Religion. She is an out-of-state student from Moraga, CA located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Professionally, Regan plans on attending graduate school to explore the impacts of social bias on policy creation. Her career goal is to become a Foreign Service Officer, inspired by her study abroad experience in Rome, Italy and internship with the Department of State in Nepal, Kathmandu. In addition, she is a part of the Social Policy and Identity Research Lab under the Evans School of Public Policy which has given her skills to research critical questions. During her four years, she has focused on mentoring her peers. As former Student Director for the Campus Visit Program, Orientation Leader, and Honors Peer Educator, Regan has helped create a more inclusive community. She enjoys collaborating with the UW community to create more dialogue about the role of religion has on politics and what it means for student identities in hopes of creating a more inclusive environment. Currently, Regan is planning an interfaith dialogue event called One of Many funded by the Husky Seed Fund. At the event, participants will listen to selected stories of how faith has impacted an individual’s student identity. Outside of UW, she works at REI in downtown Seattle. In addition, she enjoys running and yoga. The Fulbright grant that she applied for is at the University of Salamanca Master’s in International and Global Studies. Her focus area in the program would be Conflict Management and Nationalism, which fits her career goals and personal interests extremely well. Ultimately, Regan is sad to be leaving her community at UW but thankful for all the opportunities that have led her to this path.
Regan’s tip: Start early!!! The deadline is before UW starts which might make securing letters of recommendations difficult.
Nasri Isaac – Semi-Finalist, Turkey
Senior, UW Tacoma
Class of 2017, Environmental Health major
Sara graduated Summa Cum Laude with her B.S. in Environmental Health in 2017. During her last semester of college, Sara studied abroad in rural Thailand conducting community-based research. The opportunity to build relationships with local villagers cultivated Sara’s passion for hearing the stories and perspectives of other people. After spending another two months traveling abroad in Southeast Asia, Sara accepted a fellowship through CDC’s Public Health Associate Program (PHAP). She packed up her bags once more and moved to Columbus to work at the Ohio Department of Health. Sara works in both health preparedness and health equity to promote more targeted emergency response efforts and public health program interventions. In January 2019, Sara began a 60-day deployment to Charleston, West Virginia to assist the Hepatitis A outbreak response. Thus far, she has helped coordinate vaccine clinics at homeless shelters, faith-based organizations, and Medication-Assisted Treatment centers to get more than 600 people vaccinated.
The combination of traveling abroad, doing on-the-ground community work, and seeing the influence of federal and state policy on public health programs, motivated Sara to apply for a Fulbright research fellowship. Her proposed project would be conducted in the Philippines and focuses on the impact of a social welfare policy on access to health services. This research project grew from Sara’s desire to understand the “real-world” implications of health policy and work with local communities whose voices are not always heard. Sara also intends to obtain her Masters in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and will use this Fulbright opportunity to inform which area of public health she would like to pursue further. Ultimately, Sara hopes this Fulbright is a stepping stone on the path to a global health career where she can influence policy makers by better understanding how policy affects the lives of local communities.
Sara’s tip: Start the process early! There are a lot of components to the application and you want to give yourself enough time to go through several drafts and get feedback from your peers and mentors. Also, developing a research proposal with an organization overseas takes a lot of back and forth communication – so be patient and know that the extra time you put into it will only make your proposal stronger.
Senior, International Studies and Near Eastern Languages & Civilization major
Attitudes of the artists toward their handicrafts in Morocco have sparked my curiosity due to my own interest and experience in sewing and embroidery and my experiences in Morocco. Studying the women who create Morocco’s cultural textiles will help provide me with a better understanding of the challenges facing the industry with an increased importation of mass-produced textiles. These crafts form the basis for Morocco’s cultural heritage, and my project provides an opportunity to understand the source of the beloved Moroccan rugs: the women who weaved them.
I am particularly interested in Morocco because it is often excluded from dialogues about the Middle East and viewed as an outsider, both linguistically and culturally. Most research and scholarly interest are focused on the Levant or the Gulf and North Africa is undervalued. For this reason, I believe it is important to invest in researching aspects of Moroccan culture in hopes of bringing better understanding and focus to a country that is often overlooked in politics, research, and academia.
Afterward, I will return to the US and earn a graduate degree in International Relations with an area of specialization in the Middle East and North Africa. I hope to use these experiences to help bring mutual understanding to the region and continue my work in the US State Department or as a Foreign Service officer. A year in Morocco on the Fulbright Program will help me build a community in Morocco and build bridges between our two communities through civic engagement, curiosity, and respect for one another. My hope is for the blending of the future and tradition, and understanding the views of the women who work in textiles and for understanding how to preserve the ancient knowledge and traditions of embroidery and carpet weaving in Morocco.
Sydney’s tip: Start your application early and attend info sessions to learn more about the specifications of the application and get helpful tips!
2017 - 2018
Senior, Russian Language, Literature, and Culture major
Jake Hansen was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, and throughout childhood fostered interests primarily in the areas of chemistry and mathematics. It was not until he arrived in Seattle that he began to take a serious interest in philology and language learning. Since then, he has studied abroad in St. Petersburg, been selected as recipient of several departmental awards and as an ACTR Russian Scholar Laureate, and is now completing a B.A. in Russian Language, Literature, and Culture here at UW.
With hopes to continue developing as a philologist and teacher, Hansen has applied for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Grant to Russia. While in Russia, he would work as an assistant in a university English program and also pursue the formation of collaborative relationships with young Russian authors and musicians.
Hansen has in the past collaborated with Russian authors to produce translations, including with Russian prose stylist Olga Isayeva, whose short story Avtobus (“The Bus”), a masterfully crafted portrait of everyday life in the late Soviet Union, he is currently working to get published in American literary journals.
In addition to translation praxis, Hansen is interested in the theoretical side of translation and its interaction with linguistic models. In February 2018 he delivered a talk at the Praxis Conference here at UW discussing some problems in legal translation and ways in which they have been addressed by professionals.
After spending a period of time teaching abroad, both expanding his knowledge and honing his teaching abilities, Hansen has interest in returning to American academia and continuing his development as a language specialist and scholar of Slavic Studies.
While not studying, Hansen enjoys working as a barista at the Café Allegro, spending time with friends and family, playing the drums, watching films, riding his bicycle, connecting with the natural world, and making forays into creative writing.
Class of 2017, Human Evolutionary Biology; Anthropology of Globalization
Yesenia Navarro is a recent graduate of the University of Washington(Class of 2017), with majors in Human Evolutionary Biology and Anthropology of Globalization. During her undergraduate career, Yesenia was very active in the fields of anthropology and research.
As a research assistant to Dr.Holman, Yesenia worked two years of her undergraduate career on a project that involved research on women’s reproductive health. In this role, she first learned how to analyze data and conduct statistical analysis. Additionally, she was introduced to programming languages that would enable further data manipulation.
Her time alongside Dr.Holman was instrumental in creating and sustaining a longtime passion for research. She soon discovered from this pivotal point in her life that she wanted to focus her career path for the prevention of infectious diseases.
Furthermore, once Yesenia graduated from the University of Washington, she attended the T.H Chan School of Public Health Summer Epidemiology Program. She learned over the course of the program, that it is through the field of Epidemiology, that bridges together the implementation of statistical strategy with community-level interactions that control and prevent the spread of disease.
Overall, her experiences as a undergraduate and postgraduate allowed Yesenia to fully comprehend her passion for public health. Her recent research interests include HIV/Tuberculosis prevention and zoonotic diseases endemic to Latin America. She is also particularly eager to learn how to use novel statistical methods to model infectious disease outbreaks.
Yesenia’s Tips for Future Fulbright Applicants:
Time management is a integral aspect of the application process. The grant writing process proved to be a daunting task. What made it manageable was creating personal deadlines and accountability to those deadlines with your mentor. Having someone to personally overlook your work and see if your are making progress its also another key to success.
Senior, Culture, Literature & the Arts (UW Bothell) major
Philip Palios is interested in the intersection of the environment and the humanities. He’ll start exploring that more in September through a yearlong U.S. Student Fulbright grant, earning a master’s in environment, culture and communication at the University of Glasgow Dumfries campus in southwest Scotland. Learn more about Philip in the UWB article.
Senior, Bioengineering major
Since my junior year of high school, I have been deeply involved in biomedical research, driven by a curious scientific mind and a commitment to advancing the field of medicine. These motivations guided my pursuit of an undergraduate degree in Bioengineering here at UW. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I have had the opportunity to work in many different labs across a breadth of fields. A turning point in my career came during my participation in a summer research program at the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research under Dr. Michele De Palma. There, I studied a novel cancer vaccination platform that was already showing the ability to limit tumor burden in preclinical studies. Witnessing the remarkable therapeutic potential of this vaccine firsthand cemented my commitment to a career in cancer research, working toward the development of similar treatments. This experience also drove my application to the Fulbright program, which would support my return to Switzerland to continue work on this promising therapeutic.
Outside of the lab, I have participated in Bioengineers Without Borders for several years, working on the design of a low-cost hydration monitor for application in the developing world. I also strive to help prospective bioengineers through their coursework as an undergraduate teaching assistant for three different departmental classes. Following my graduation in the spring, I plan to continue both biomedical research and teaching by pursuing graduate school and an eventual academic career, where I hope to lead my own lab devoted to the translation of cancer therapeutics.
Caleb’s Tips for Future Fulbright Applicants:
Choose the country and project wisely based on how you can craft the strongest application — how can you make this specific project in this specific country relevant to your previous experiences and future goals?
Class of 2017, Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology and Medical Anthropology & Global Health major
After taking a gap year in Germany through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Scholarship, Tammy entered the UW as a premedical student with an interest in global health. To supplement her premedical coursework, her background as a Lebanese American led her to pursue opportunities such as serving as an Arabic-English medical interpreter at the MAPS/MCRC health clinic in Seattle, and studying abroad in Jordan to volunteer in a Palestinian refugee health clinic through UNRWA. These experiences helped her identify a strong interest in pursuing a career in global health with a focus on underserved populations, specifically Arabic-speaking refugee/immigrant communities.
As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant grant recipient, Tammy will work with students from refugee and minority backgrounds in Germany. She hopes to contribute her Arab-American background, past experience in Germany, and teaching experience to these students and their classroom experience. At the same time, she hopes to further her career goals through this opportunity to keep working with underserved populations in international settings, and by taking concurrent coursework in Global Health.
Tammy’s Tips for Future Fulbright Applicants:
Start earlier than you think you need to, and don’t hesitate to use the many resources the UW makes available for applicants.
Class of 2017, Psychology and Spanish major
As a recent graduate of the University of Washington, I have applied to the Fulbright Student Program to be an English teaching assistant in Spain. As an ETA I would be able to gain invaluable experience working in a classroom with English language learners that would further prepare me to apply for a Master in Teaching program upon my return to the United States. My long-term goal is to become a dual language teacher for elementary school children, so that I am able to teach both English to native Spanish speakers and Spanish to native English speakers. After graduating from UW with a B.A. in Spanish, I strongly believe in the importance of learning a second language, as it opens up doors for communication and the understanding of different cultures, and I would love to serve as an aide to students during their academic journey.
After studying abroad in Cádiz, Spain through UW’s program, I would be excited to return to Spain to immerse myself in the Spanish language so that I can become fluent. Living abroad in Spain helped me to grow as a person and gain new experiences and I am eager to learn even more by returning. I also would be excited to travel not only around Spain, but other European countries as well. After my first visit, I have added many more places to my bucket list that I am ready to cross off!
Kylie’s Tips for Future Fulbright Applicants:
My advice would be to ask for your letters of recommendation and write your essays far in advance so that you can come into interviews confident with specific questions for improvement.
Class of 2017, Biochemistry and Interdisciplinary Honors major
Growing up, I was fortunate to have been exposed to a variety of cultures and languages. By the beginning of high school, I had seen 5 of the 7 continents. Over the years, I transitioned from being a tourist to a cultural ambassador by setting out on each new adventure with a personal goal of furthering my understanding of the delicate and dynamic art of communication.
As a premed, I am committed towards improving access to not only quality healthcare, but also to vital resources necessary for people to live sustainable lives. Teaching English excites me because it provides people with skills necessary to take part in the larger global economy. Opening up this opportunity allows people to not only improve the quality of their own lives, but also promote social and economic development in their countries.
I hope to heighten my social perceptiveness and cultural competency, which will be useful for communicating effectively with my future patients as a doctor. Pursuing a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship would take me one step closer to this goal. As an aspiring physician, taking advantage of any opportunity to use and build upon my cultural insights will continue to inform my passion for incorporating cultural awareness into patient care.
Currently in my gap year, I enjoy working at Swedish Hospital as both a scribe in the Emergency Department and as a technician for an otolaryngologist. In my free time, I love rock climbing, playing the harp, volunteering at a nursing home, and teaching English to refugees in Seattle.
Anika’s Tips for Future Fulbright Applicants:
Scheduling meetings with the Fulbright advisors was very valuable for me. I brainstormed ideas for why I am interested in Fulbright and what makes me competitive with them, and they helped me mold my thoughts/ideas into a more coherent story. I also encourage future students to reach out to previous Fulbrighters early — names of previous winners can be found on the website, I looked them up on Facebook, sent them a message, and they were more than happy to help and answer questions. What I learned from talking to past Fulbrighters helped me determine whether this was something I truly wanted to do, and how I could frame my application in the most competitive manner possible. Whether or not I receive a Fulbright Scholarship, it is these conversations that have made me reflect on my life’s story to understand why I am where I am today, making me 100% sure of the career path I have chosen to take.
Class of 2016, International Studies major
Nicole Shermer graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Washington with a B.A. in International Studies in 2016. In both the Running Start program and at UW, she engaged in extensive advocacy and organizing experience as a Campus Leader for the ONE Campaign, an organization focused on fighting extreme poverty and preventable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. She met with elected officials, campaigned on important legislation, and found a passion for global development issues.
Nicole eventually interned for both the ONE Campaign in Washington, D.C. and the African Chamber of the Pacific Northwest (ACCPNW) in Seattle. She also studied abroad in San Sebastian, Spain, during her senior year. She currently works as the Program Coordinator for the Middle East Center at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington. Her Fulbright experience in Zana, Peru, will allow her to explore the intersections of sustainable environmental development and cultural history and develop valuable personal relationships within a community abroad. After the Fulbright, Nicole hopes to attend graduate school to study Environment and Development and eventually work for an international development organization.
Nicole’s Tips for Future Fulbright Applicants:
Start as early as possible – feel free to email professors and possible contacts even if you don’t feel like you have a full idea of what you want your project to be. They can help you come up with ideas and possible directions for your research. If I had done that my application process would have been a lot easier. It’s also a good idea to have an adviser or a professor look over your grant proposal many times to help you with feedback; at some point though you just have to go with your gut when people give conflicting advice or advice you disagree with. Also, make sure your recommenders know that exact date of the application deadline.
Class of 2017, Communication (Journalism) major, Spanish minor
Katie Anastas graduated from the UW in August 2017 with a degree in Communication (Journalism) and a minor in Spanish. She is currently a production assistant at NPR Music.
As an undergraduate, Katie worked as a features intern at The Seattle Times, an editorial intern at Crosscut, a DJ at Rainy Dawg Radio and an editor at The Daily. She was also a research associate with the Mapping American Social Movements project in the Department of History, where she helped produce interactive maps of the United Farm Workers movement, the underground press of the Vietnam War era, the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and the women’s suffrage movement.
During summer quarter of 2017, Katie studied abroad in Berlin, where she learned about community responses to the arrival of immigrants and refugees. She conducted a research project comparing past and present struggles with immigrant and refugee housing in Berlin. The project allowed her to combine her love of conducting interviews, researching public policy, learning about history and producing multimedia projects.
If selected for the Fulbright program, Katie would bring her love of teaching to Spain. In high school, Katie spent her summers working as a Girl Scout camp counselor, and she eventually earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for teaching computer classes in English and Spanish to middle school girls in San Diego county. Katie hopes to learn about how education and women’s empowerment intersect in Spanish culture.
Katie’s Tips for Future Fulbright Applicants:
Try your best to meet the campus deadline for the Fulbright application. I also applied last year, but missed the campus deadline, and I realize now just how many valuable resources I was missing out on. The advisers at UW helped make my application more polished and detailed, and they pointed out areas of improvement I would have overlooked on my own.
Class of 2017, International Studies (Global Development) major, Global Health and Chinese Language minor
My undergraduate studies are a direct reflection of where my passions lie. I graduated with a Bachelors of Art degree in International Studies with a focus in Global Development through the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. In addition, I double minored in Global Health and Chinese Language. Altogether, these areas of study deepened my understanding of international development and health. I aspire to allow these passions to dictate my career path which is why I am pursing Fulbright Scholarship and a career in international development. During my time at the UW, I spent four months studying abroad in Kunming, China, taking intensive Mandarin classes and conducting an independent research project on HIV and hepatitis C Co-infection. My second study abroad experience in Nepal exposed me to the the difficulties of managing aid organizations in the wake of a crippling earth quake. Now that I have finished my degree, I work for a social enterprise company, MiiR, which donates 3% of its profits to clean water initiatives and other empowerment projects. A Fulbright English Teaching Award would be the culmination to my previous experiences because it would enable me to gain a sharper understanding of international development and a deeper cross-cultural connection.
Jessica’s Tips for Future Fulbright Applicants:
Begin exploring Fulbright far ahead of the deadline due date and talk to people who have completed a similar scholarship journey.
Class of 2017, Political Science and History major
I am from Puyallup Washington, 30 miles south of Seattle. I have two sisters, one older, one younger. My parents are both teachers in the Puyallup School District. I had the esteemed opportunity to run track and field at the UW under coaches Greg Metcalf and Jason Drake. I had a terrific experience at the UW and learned the meaning of service and connectivity. I returned to Puyallup during college and spoke at the local schools; touching on leadership qualities, goal-setting and tips on how to balance schoolwork and athletics. However, I learned from the students as much as they learned from me. The value of education is invaluable, I am taking this opportunity to teach abroad, to widen my audience and to learn from students overseas. I plan to attend law school and provide a legal service to those most in need. As an Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Spain, I will be given the communication skills necessary to provide a free legal service to the low-income members of our community, especially in Spanish-speaking areas otherwise denied access to legal aid.
Mason’s Tips for Future Fulbright Applicants:
Think and reflect on why it is you want to go or study what you study to provide a strong underlying reason as to why you deserve a certain scholarship.
Class of 2017, Political Science major
I wanted to apply for the Fulbright to India because I want to gain more experience in the country, research experience and more language training. I would like the Fulbright because it is a great opportunity to meet other like-minded students and it would prepare me for grad school and/or future career.
Gary’s Tips for Future Fulbright Applicants:
Start early, because there are a lot of components that take a long time to come through. For example, some Fulbright countries require a foreign institution to serve as your sponsor. and those contacts might take a long time to reply. However, don’t let that deter you if you begin late, you never know what can happen if you don’t try.
Senior, Biochemistry and Neurobiology major
Jessica Lo is a graduating senior who is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in both Neurobiology and Biochemistry. She is a neuroscientist to her core, blending a passion for work at the bench with a desire to engage people in her communities. For the past two years, Jessica has worked in a neurodevelopment lab studying autism in relation to the Tbr1 and Tbr2 genes. Specifically, her research has concentrated on characterizing these genes in the basal forebrain and midbrain. Her research is currently on its way to publication, and she hopes that her work will provide a deeper understanding of how the Tbr1/2 genes contribute to global development of glutamatergic neurons.
In her time away from lab, Jessica founded and currently acts as president of a student organization dedicated to serving survivors of brain injury. She has grown the organization from one person to thirty (and counting) in the course of a year, avidly growing partnerships with organizations in Seattle in order to provide a robust resource to the brain injury community. Jessica also interns with Full Life Care, working with survivors of brain injury in low-income situations through physical- and social-based rehabilitation.
As a Fulbright-er in the United Kingdom, Jessica sees her passion for science and communities continuing to blend together. With the support of the Fulbright commission, Jessica will work with Dr. Zoltan Molnar to understand myelination of long-range projection neurons, a process that is disrupted in diseases such as multiple sclerosis and potentially even schizophrenia. She hopes to start a similar brain injury support organization oversees at Oxford, too. In all, Jessica hopes to continue working with the brain injury community and pursuing research from the standpoint of a physician. Upon returning the US, Jessica plans to apply to medical school and eventually become a neurosurgeon.
Jessica’s Tips for Future Fulbright Applicants:
Get started early on finding an overseas contact for a letter of affiliation (if it is required). I started six months in advance and still wished that I had more time. People become busy, and it’s always a leap to reach out to someone you may not meet face-to-face. However, just be persistent and be proactive. I helped my affiliate write my letter after talking to him about his research once–it expedited the process, and I’m sure it saved him some time, too!
Senior, Business (Marketing and Information Systems) major
I was born and raised in New York and dove into uncertainty by deciding to attend the University of Washington four years ago. With an academic background studying marketing and information systems at the Foster School of Business and strong interests in social justice, I hope to pursue a career in marketing strategy and content creation for positive social impact. Throughout college I have been involved with a co-ed business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi as the VP of Community Service, founded an undergraduate chapter of Net Impact as an RSO under Foster, and co-founded an arts and culture magazine in Seattle called Human Condition. At the core of these involvements is a passion for people, curiosity to learn, and inclination to work hard and stay involved with my community. I owe a great deal to the educators, mentors, and institutions that shaped the educational journey of my life and am inspired to help shape the journey of others. Fulbright is an incredible opportunity to engage in understanding others, practicing empathy, refining communication skills, and interacting cross culturally. It embodies the values I see in marketing when it comes to building relationships and communicating ideologies through a constant willingness to learn and grow an understanding of one another. As a Fulbright Scholar semifinalist I am honored and humbled to be considered for the incredible opportunity to be an English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan. If chosen, I aim to contribute whole heartedly and learn humbly from this experience.
Jennifer’s Tips for Future Fulbright Applicants:
Like any application, I recommend doing lots of self reflection prior to and during the Fulbright application. It’s critical to truly take the time to ask yourself the tough questions and dig deeper beyond what the application questions state point blank. For example, my answer for why I chose the specific country took me weeks of questioning and thinking to get right. My number one advice is to be genuine and unique in your answers while tying it to the big picture. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help, you likely won’t get this on your first, second, or even third try but it helps to have another or multiple other pair of eyes take a look at what you’re submitting!
Senior, Russian Language, Literature, & Culture and Germanics major

2016 - 2017
Class of 2015, Romance Linguistics major
Max graduated from the UW’s Romance Linguistics program in December 2015. As a Post-Baccalaureate student, he conducted research on Spanish-speakers’ acquisition of certain English consonants and the language attitudes to Spanish held by its speakers in Washington State. Max had the opportunity to present his research at the UW’s 5th Annual Undergraduate Linguistics Colloquium and the Cascadia Workshop in Sociolinguistics. Currently, he works as an Associate Spanish Teacher and a part-time ESL teacher in the Seattle area.
Before coming to the UW, Max became interested in linguistics and Spanish through a variety of experiences both at home and abroad. After minoring in Spanish at Western Washington University, Max participated in the North American Language and Cultural Assistants program in Almería, Spain, worked as an ESL instructor to adults in Mexico City, and led trips of high school students to Latin America. These experiences are what provoked his interest in linguistics.
By pursuing graduate programs in Mexico, Max hopes to gain the requisite knowledge to pursue a career that widens the American perspective of Latin America and fosters intercultural understanding. He hopes to accomplish this by applying linguistic theory to language learning, for example, by creating pedagogical materials that are optimized for students with particular language backgrounds and make us of Computer Assisted Language Learning. This could include anything from a flash card application that contains high-frequency false cognates between English and Spanish (English ‘actually’ ≠ Spanish ‘actualmente’) to lesson plans for Spanish classes that contain multimedia materials with a healthy balance of different dialect regions. In addition, Max is interested in experiencing with simultaneous bilingual instruction, that is, concurrent English instruction for Spanish-speakers and Spanish instruction for English-speakers followed by interactive activities. In addition to applied linguistics, Max is also interested in learning more about theoretical linguistics.
Class of 2015, International Studies and Chinese Language and Literature major
Benjamin Lee graduated from University of Washington in June 2015 with highest honors in Chinese and International Studies. He studied under the departmental honors programs at the Jackson School and the Asian Languages & Literatures Department.
During his junior year, Ben studied abroad in National Taiwan University as a Boren Scholar. He studied Mandarin, Taiwanese politics, and cross-strait relations. He also received the UW Presidential Scholarship for the 2014 – 2015 academic year, which funded his senior honors research project that compared how democratization in Taiwan and South Korea affected cross-Strait and inter-Korean relations. Ben presented his research findings in three different undergraduate conferences in Seattle, Cheney and Seoul.
In November 2014, Ben participated in in Strait Talk, a student conference on cross-Strait relations at Brown University. He worked as the Editor in Chief of the consensus document, which listed proposals from U.S., Chinese and Taiwanese delegates on how to maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait. Ben was also one of three undergraduate Young Global Leaders at the Slade Gorton International Policy Center, where he was awarded the Sally Gorton Leadership award for his preparation of a policy table with former U.S. Ambassador to China, Gary Locke.
After graduation, Ben worked at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace as a junior fellow for the Asia program. He assisted senior scholars’ research on security issues in US-China relations and published several articles for the Diplomat. For the 2017-2018 academic year, he was awarded the Fulbright Research and Study Grant to China to conduct research on cross-Strait relations. Eventually, Ben would like to work in the government where he can contribute to American foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific.
Class of 2016, Computer Science and Systems (Tacoma) major
Sophie Nop (Computer Science & Systems, BS ‘16) has been offered a grant from the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program to Cambodia for 2017-18. She will be spending a year in Kralanh, Cambodia and plans to work with a local NGO on a participatory research project: Her goal is to better understand how mobile app development can advance digital literacy in rural areas, and how Cambodian youth interact with technology. Huge congratulations to Sophie and to everyone who’s taught, inspired, and supported her during her time at UW Tacoma.
While at UW Tacoma, Sophie served as ASUWT president from 2015-16 and was recognized in the inaugural Husky 100 cohort. She also founded UW Tacoma Dreams Big — a technology conference to encourage everyone, especially women and people of color, to pursue STEM careers.
Senior, Scandinavian Studies major
Alexandra was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. An avid language learner, Alexandra spends much of her free time improving her skills in Latvian, Lithuanian, Korean, Spanish, and Russian. After studying abroad with AFS in Latvia as a senior in high school, Alexandra moved to Scotland, where she studied International Relations at the University of St. Andrews and competed with the university’s ski team. In 2016 she transferred to the University of Washington and focused her studies on the politics, societies, and defense of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia as a Scandinavian Studies major with a Baltic focus. Inspired by her time in Latvia, where she was exposed to the country’s thriving BMX culture, Alexandra’s Fulbright research centers around the history and impact of BMX on the community of Valmiera and the relationship between grassroots and elite sports and development. She plans to return to UW’s Scandinavian Studies Department in the future as a graduate student, and pursue a career as a Baltic scholar.
Senior, Sociology major, Spanish minor
Olivia Smith is a soon to be graduate from the University of Washington with a degree in Sociology, and a minor in Spanish. Throughout her time in college, Olivia has been heavily involved with First Year Programs, where she served as both an Orientation Leader and FIG Leader, as a mentor through the UW Dream Project, and the Black Student Union, in which she served as the president during her senior year. After having her first experience abroad in Spain, through a summer study abroad program, Olivia hoped that she would once more have the opportunity to explore worlds outside of the US. Combining her yearn to travel and her passion for education, Olivia is excited to pursue an English Teaching Assistant Grant through Fulbright. Through this Fulbright opportunity in Mexico, Olivia hopes to make valuable connections with students, as well as strengthen her sense of cultural awareness and competency, that will furthermore translate to her future experiences within education. Upon returning from Mexico, Olivia hopes to attend graduate school, where she can receive a master’s in education or teaching.
Senior, International Studies major
Kevin has been selected as a finalist for the Fulbright US Student Research Program. If selected, he will spend a year in Kampala, Uganda, studying the influence of viruses on the development of cancers at the Hutchinson Center Research Institute Uganda.
Kevin is a Senior, majoring in International Studies in the Jackson School Honors Program. Kevin is also pre-med, and plans to apply to medical schools after a gap year focused on research.
Throughout Kevin’s four years at the UW, he has been involved in student government and research. Kevin served on the leadership of the ASUW Student Senate for three years, and currently chairs the Provost Advisory Committee for Students. Kevin also works at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and participated in the Fred Hutch Summer Undergraduate Research Program in 2016. For the past three years, Kevin has also volunteered as a mentor in the UW Leaders program.
Kevin hopes to help shape a more equitable world at the intersection of research and policy, and the Fulbright US Student Research Program would take him one step closer to this goal.
Society, Ethics, & Human Behavior and Health Studies (Bothell) major
Senior, Bioengineering major
With a high school math teacher and a university biology professor as parents, I’ve always known the importance of both education and educators. Seeing as educators develop the next generation of great minds, ideas, and innovation, my hope is eventually teach and lead a research laboratory at the university level. I’m currently in Dr. Ying Zheng’s lab where my research focuses on developing a renal cell carcinoma kidney-tumor-on-a-chip to recapitulate tumor-induced angiogenesis. The goal is to develop a microphysiological model that better simulates the human microenvironment in order to more efficiently test developing cancer therapeutics. Outside of research, I am deeply involved in student leadership as the President of the UW Chapter Biomedical Engineering Society and Co-Founder/Editor-in-Chief of Denatured Journal. In whatever spare time I have, I love to travel to new places, try new cuisines, and go to sporting events around Seattle. After graduation I plan to pursue a Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering in order to continue to develop as a researcher. After graduate school, I hope to pursue a professorship and be a leader in the classroom and the laboratory.
Law, Economics and Public Policy and Global Studies (Bothell) major
Biology major
As a Fulbright Scholar at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia I hope pursue an MA in Geography where I will study the ways human governance and economic systems influence the circulation of capital and living beings in the context of zoos, agriculture, and wildlife refuges. Canada is notable among developed nations for the portion of its economy comprised by agriculture, forestry, fossil fuel extraction, and mining, contributing globally significant exports in all these sectors. Its large swathes of wilderness and rich environmental history also make it an ideal setting to study how these settings transform through commodification. By studying contemporary and historical land use commodity chains in Canada, I will gain a richer understanding of the issues than I could by conducting this research elsewhere. This work will propel me through a PhD and eventually professional scholarship in geography that I will use to help scholars, policymakers, and the public recognize the lands and peoples with which their lives are bound and grasp how global economic systems and the narratives people tell about them both create and confound these bounds.
As I pursue my graduate work at UBC, I also plan to spend time getting to know the people and geographies of British Columbia through recreation and volunteer work. As an avid biker, cycling will allow me to explore the Vancouver region more extensively than I would be able to on foot and more intimately than I could by car. Although British Columbia has one of the smallest Francophone populations of all Canadian provinces, I also hope to continue improving my French language skills and familiarity with francophone cultures by volunteering with Le Centre Culturel Francophone de Vancouver, an organization that hosts language courses and francophone art and cultural events in Vancouver, BC.
Senior, Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (Tacoma) major
International Studies
Caleb is a builder, thinker, truth-seeker, fact-gatherer, and self-taught web designer. A true native of Seattle, Caleb loves the outdoors and a good down jacket. When he isn’t working, his bags are packed and he’s on the move. This eagerness to experience the world led him to pursue a degree from University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies.
During his time at UW, Caleb spent a semester abroad in Geneva, Switzerland studying multilateral diplomacy and sustainable development. While there, he conducted research for the Global Institute for Water, Environment, and Health on the utility of private sector investment in alleviating environmental crises. This research led Caleb to develop an intense curiosity for clean technologies and how they can be used to overcome social and environmental challenges. The following year Caleb participated in a task force researching approaches to eliminate extreme poverty by 2030. His section of the report evaluated current development practices in South and Southeast Asia and identified strategies for reforming aid practices to better assist in promoting economic development and protecting the environment.
After graduating, Caleb worked as the Washington Policy Associate for the Seattle-based clean energy economy nonprofit, Climate Solutions. There he served as the lead analyst for legislative and regulatory policy development covering state and federal climate policy, clean energy, carbon markets, utility regulation, and transportation fuels. Most recently, Caleb has been working as a research partner with a cohort of urban sustainability professionals, developing a report identifying pathways to improve the efficacy of urban climate action programs.
Caleb also serves on the board of the nonprofit New Dawn Guatemala, an organization that works to foster ecological sustainability, economic vitality, and educational advancement in rural Guatemalan communities. In 2016, Caleb traveled down to Guatemala with a film crew to collect footage for a documentary film about the economic, political, and environmental pressures inflicting these communities.
Drama and English major
Senior, Social Welfare major
2015 - 2016
Senior, Anthropology (Anthropology and Global Health) major
Rachel Abramson is a graduating senior in Honors Anthropology, completing the Medical Anthropology and Global Health option. She will be conducting research on childhood nutrition and obesity in Chengdu, China during her Fulbright year. Rachel is focusing on how increasing childhood obesity may be related to other changes that urban and rural families are experiencing around Chengdu, specifically urbanization and globalization. This topic stems from her Honors Thesis, which looked at the relationship between childhood obesity and household composition (presence of one or both parents, grandparents, and/or siblings). While her honors research provided a big-picture view of childhood nutrition in China, she hopes her Fulbright research will contribute to a better understanding of the underlying cause and effect.
Like many developing nations, China is transitioning away from acute disease toward chronic, and nutrition is a key factor in these changes. Rachel is fascinated by these global health trends, and as half-Chinese, is interested in China’s public health problems in particular. She has taken four years of Mandarin as an undergraduate, with her 3rd year of Chinese taken intensively in a summer abroad at Sichuan University in Chengdu. Rachel looks forward to returning to Chengdu to conduct her Fulbright research. She will be working with an epidemiologist at Sichuan University’s School of Public Health to conduct a field study on the local nutritional changes. Rachel hopes to pursue a degree in epidemiology and ultimately a career in global health.
Senior, Public Health major
Margaret Babayan is a UW graduate with a B.S. in Public Health, the daughter of Armenian immigrants, and an advocate for human rights and health equity. Having once struggled to read and write in English, Margaret was thrilled to help students build their confidence in writing as a Writing Adviser at the Center for Learning & Undergraduate Enrichment (CLUE). Working one on one with students at CLUE piqued her interest in pursuing an English Teaching Assistantship in Armenia.
After graduating, Margaret continued her work with Health Equity Circle as a core leadership team member and co-instructor for “Community Organizing for Health Equity,” an inter-professional UW seminar. Margaret also found opportunities to engage with human rights off campus as a Commissioner, and later Co-Chair, for the Seattle Human Rights Commission.
Margaret plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Health after completing her year in Armenia. She hopes her time there will be an exercise in pedagogy that will inform a career in community-driven public health practice and policy development. She sees parallels between how Fulbright ETAs build trust within their classrooms and how public health professionals form relationships within the communities they collaborate with. By working closely with students in the classroom, Margaret hopes to cultivate the leadership capacity necessary for a career in public health, all the while advancing her fluency in Armenian and promoting mutual understanding between Armenia and the United States.
Senior, Neurobiology major
Taylor Boyd is a senior in the interdisciplinary honors program, studying neurobiology, and could not be more excited to dive into post-graduation life as a teacher in South Korea so that she can use her global life experiences, and passion for teaching and empowering young people , to encourage student success and confidence. It was the completion of her final honors research project on Korean language and education, during which she learned about the barriers in heritage language retention, faced by many Korean immigrants and first generation Korean-Americans students attending public schools in Washington, which sparked her love and interest in Korean culture.
During the past three years as a Student Ambassador for the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity and also as a youth ESL tutor, she has been using tutoring and college-readiness assistance to help minority, refugee and first-generation students recognize their true personal and academic potentials. Further, her experiences of teaching, researching and volunteering in the Vhembe District of South Africa, Southern India and Darien Panama have taught her how to adapt quickly to new learning and teaching environments and cater more effectively to students of diverse backgrounds. These are skills, which she believes will allow her to be an effective teacher and help students in Korea thrive by creating culturally competent, innovative and intellectually stimulating lessons on learning the English language.
After her Fulbright Tay plans to join the next generation of health professionals by earning her MD-PhD and becoming a researcher, professor and a physician for Doctors Without Borders – a career choice which will definitely allow her to utilize what she has learned abroad about the beauty and power of cross-cultural learning and teaching.
Senior, International Studies major
Kelsey Brewster is a graduating senior in the Jackson School of International Studies. Her formative years growing up in Germany and in 5 different states along the East Coast have fueled her passion for international affairs and travel. When she arrived at the UW in 2012, she followed her interests abroad and spent a year in Lyon, France at Université Jean Moulin.
Her time at UW has been spent learning about global affairs as well as what is happening right here in Seattle. She spent a summer interning for Horn of Africa Services, a non-profit focused on empowering the East African community of Seattle. Kelsey participated in their Summer Youth Engagement Program (SYEP), where she helped lead lesson plans and develop curriculum for the SYEP on the topics of healthy eating, active living, cultural competency, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. She hopes to apply some of what she learned to her teaching assistantship in Malaysia.
Following her Fulbright, Kelsey is not too sure what her future holds. She plans to pursue graduate studies or a career in diplomacy or the foreign service. She hopes to have a clearer idea after her time in Malaysia teaching English and enhancing cross-cultural relations. She is thrilled at having been selected for the Fulbright Fellowship and can’t wait to see what her time in Malaysia has in store for her.
Senior, International Studies major
Elizabeth Castro grew up in Mesa, Washington and Veracruz, Mexico. She identifies as the daughter of farm workers, as this term captures many of her childhood experiences crisscrossing between rural communities in two countries.
At the age of seventeen, Elizabeth was selected as a Junior Counselor in South Korea’s Camp Fulbright. In order to pay for a flight across the Pacific Ocean, Elizabeth worked thinning apple trees in Washington orchards and held a local fundraiser. Camp Fulbright is a two-week English language immersion program. Living and working with Korean students and engaging in cultural exchange convinced Elizabeth she would one day apply to become a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant.
Elizabeth and her older sister, Jessica, make up the first-generation in their family to attend college. Elizabeth graduated from Columbia Basin College, where she attended as a Washington Running Start student. At UW, Elizabeth has actively participated in the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which serves students from a seasonal and migrant farmworker background during their transition to campus.
Elizabeth is now a senior in the UW Jackson School of International Studies. Her Task Force research explored post-secondary education for indigenous students in the Canadian Arctic and increased her awareness of Inuit language education. As a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, her current work highlights Mexican student advocacy in rural teacher colleges.
Elizabeth knows the process of language acquisition is a critical aspect in the lives of many underrepresented, low-income Latinx youth. Raised in a Spanish-speaking home, Elizabeth once confessed to her father her struggle to understand her teacher. She looks forward to a year of learning and growth as she supports students in Mexico who are learning English. Upon completion of her Fulbright award, Elizabeth will transition to the Education Policy and Management master’s program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Senior, Political Science and Near Eastern Languages and Civilization major
Tessa Fager will graduate in June 2016 with a double major in Political Science and Near Eastern Languages and Civilization (NELC). She was first introduced to Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies after she was awarded a National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) to study abroad in Morocco the fall after graduating high school. Tessa has since dedicated her collegiate studies and extracurricular activities to expand her knowledge and familiarity of the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region. For two years she served as an officer for the national student initiative Project Nur, which seeks to create a discourse of cross-cultural understanding of MENA peoples and culture on college campuses.
Eager to gain more experience living in the MENA region, Tessa spent her junior undergraduate year in Amman, Jordan where she studied Arabic at Qasid Language Institute. In additional to daily language classes, she volunteered with Dar al-Yasmin, a local NGO, teaching English to local Jordanians and Syrian refugees in Zaatari Village. Her time in Jordan was a valuable experience that inspired her to apply to the Fulbright program. She now looks forward to returning to Jordan to both continue her Arabic studies and share the gift of language learning with others as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant.
During the summer of 2015, Tessa had the opportunity to study at Howard University as a Rangel Scholar, which exposed her to various public sector careers. The Rangel Program helped shape her career goals and subsequently confirmed her ambitions to enter a career in public service. Upon returning from her Fulbright, Tessa plans to apply to graduate school for a master’s in Public Policy. She hopes to use her language and knowledge of the MENA to contribute to global development, influence international policy, and inspire cross-cultural understanding.
Literature and Education major
Emma Kibort-Crocker was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. After graduating high school a year early, she spent two months in Ghana on a service-learning trip before moving to Rhode Island to complete a year of service with the AmeriCorps program City Year. She worked full-time in the lowest performing middle school in the state, tutoring and mentoring at-risk students during the day and running after school programs aimed to expand students’ horizons through international studies and wellness initiatives.
She returned to Seattle for college to attend the University of Washington where she studies literature and education. She has continued to work with at-risk youth throughout college, and has enjoyed working with many diverse communities in Seattle. She is currently an intern with the International Rescue Committee’s resettlement programs in King County, where she has facilitated cultural orientation classes, run a summer day camp, and worked with families and youth on school enrollment and preparation.
As an ETA in Vietnam, Emma hopes to utilize her experience in the field of education to connect with her students academically and personally and help them improve their English language skills. She also hopes to increase her own understanding of Vietnamese culture and language and explore the beautiful country of Vietnam. After Fulbright, Emma plans to obtain a Masters in Public Administration to aid and empower vulnerable populations.
Class of 2014, Civil Engineering major
Class of 2015, Near Eastern Studies Language and Civilization and English major
Senior, International Studies major, German and African Studies minor
Hamda Yusuf is a senior majoring in International Studies and minoring in German and African Studies. She is a Somali-American and calls both Hargeisa, Somalia and Seattle, Washington home. Hamda has been heavily involved with the Somali Student Association on campus and served as the Community Affairs Officer. Earlier in the school year she was able to intern with Senator Maria Cantwell’s Seattle office where she focused on immigration and visa issues. During her time at UW she developed a passion for studying immigration pathways, cultural studies, and human rights. These passions were a big motivation in her applying for the Community Based Combined Grant in Austria during the 2016-2017 year. Having already participated in the Spring in Vienna study abroad program her sophomore year, Hamda feels well prepared to return to a city that she found both beautiful and perplexing. She will work as an English teaching assistant in an Austrian secondary school, attend classes at the University of Vienna, and work with an organization that finds better housing for refugees in Austria. If she manages to have any free time, she hopes to fulfill her dream of hiking parts of the Alps.
After her Fulbright year, Hamda plans to join the Rangel Fellowship Program and do her graduate studies at the New School’s Milano School of International Affairs in New York City where she will focus on conflict and security. Hamda hopes to eventually serve as a consular officer for the Foreign Service, where she will be able to work to promote security and increase understanding between nations. As a first-generation college student, Hamda wants to recognize her parents for always motivating her to be a positive force in the world.
Class of 2015, Math and Economics major
Class of 2015, Business Administration major
Class of 2015, Anthropology major
Class of 2015, Environmental Science & Resource Management and Environmental Studies major
Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics major
Global Studies major
Biochemistry and Communication major
Sustainable Urban Development major
Drama and English major
2014 - 2015
Shannon Foss, Senior, Comparative History of Ideas & Communication major: Fulbright Student to Romania, English Teaching Assistantship
Lizbeth Garcia, Senior, Economics major: Fulbright Student to Brazil, English Teaching Assistantship
Jade Graddy, Politics, Philosophy, & Economics (UW Tacoma) major: Fulbright Student to Jordan, English Teaching Assistantship
Sharon Newman, Senior, Bioengineering major: Fulbright Student to Germany, Study/Research
Richard Ruoff, Senior, History and Near Eastern Studies and Civilization major: Fulbright Student to Turkey, English Teaching Assistantship
Katherine Schroeder, Senior, International Studies major: Fulbright Student to Russia, English Teaching Assistantship
Clara Summers, Senior, Anthropology & Eastern European Languages, Literature, and Culture major: Fulbright Student to Indonesia, English Teaching Assistantship
John McClung, Senior, Anthropology major: Alternate, the Philippines, Study/Research
Abraham White, Senior, Medical Anthropology and Global Health major: Alternate, Rwanda, English Teaching Assistantship
Kailyn Elliott, Nursing (Bothell): Semifinalist, Denmark, Study/Research
Sarah Kislak, Class of 2014, Public Health and Comparative History of Ideas major: Semifinalist, Indonesia, English Teaching Assistantship
Matthew Libby, Class of 2014, Society, Ethics, & Human Behavior (Bothell) major: Semifinalist, Zambia, Study/Research
Michael Wright, Interdisciplinary Studies: Law, Economics, Public Policy (Bothell) major: Semifinalist, Russia, English Teaching Assistantship
2013 - 2014
Julia Evans, Senior, Spanish and Romance Linguistics major: Fulbright Student to Colombia, English Teaching Assistantship
Philmon Haile, Senior, International Studies major: Fulbright Student to Jordan, Study/Research
Hani Mahmoud, Senior, Bioengineering major: Fulbright Student to Kuwait, Study/Research
Aspasea McKenna, Business Administration (Bothell) major: Fulbright Student to Indonesia, English Teaching Assistantship
Vincent Pham, Senior, English major: Fulbright Student to Vietnam, English Teaching Assistantship
Emi Preston, Senior, Spanish major: Fulbright Student to Taiwan, English Teaching Assistantship
Kevin Shaw, Senior, International Studies and Law, Societies, & Justice major: Fulbright Student to China, Study/Research
Taylor Sloane, Class of 2010, Business Administration & Accounting major: Fulbright Student to Mexico, Study/Research
Kailyn Swarthout, Senior, International Studies and Law, Society & Justice major: Alternate, Indonesia, English Teaching Assistantship
Vanessa Szakal, Senior, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations major: Alternate, Morocco, Study/Research
David Whitlock, Norwegian and Psychology major: Alternate, Latvia, English Teaching Assistantship
Kailyn Elliott, Nursing (Bothell): Semifinalist, Denmark, Study/Research
Genevieve Gebhart, Senior, International Studies and Economics major: Semifinalist, Thailand, Study/Research
Jade Graddy, Senior, Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (UW Tacoma) major: Semifinalist, Jordan, English Teaching Assistantship
Jasleena Grewal, Environmental Science major: Semifinalist, India, Study/Research
Kayhan Nejad, History major: Semifinalist, Azerbaijan, Study/Research
Devon Walker, Chinese Language & Literature and International Studies major: Semifinalist, Taiwan, English Teaching Assistantship
2012 - 2013
Taylor Boren, Class of 2012, Law, Societies, & Justice and Psychology major: Fulbright Student to Sweden, Study/Research
Merzamie Cagaitan, Senior, English Language & Literature and Comparative History of Ideas (CHID) major: Fulbright Student to South Korea, English Teaching Assistantship
Jeremy Coppock, Senior, Russian and Eastern European Literature, Languages, & Culture (Czech) major: Fulbright Student to Russia, English Teaching Assistantship
Natalie Downs, Senior, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Italian Studies major: Fulbright Student to Italy, English Teaching Assistantship
Christopher Nelson, Nursing (Bothell): Fulbright Student to Denmark, Study/Research
Benjamin O’Connor, Class of 2011, German Studies major: Fulbright Student to Germany, Study/Research
Anna Stehle, Senior, Economics major: Fulbright Student to Brazil, English Teaching Assistantship
Kaia Chessen, Semifinalist, Ghana, Study/Research
Silvia Gelbard, Spanish and South Asian Languages major: Semifinalist, India, Study/Research
Phobe Huang, Semifinalist, Malaysia, English Teaching Assistantship
Martin Jarmick, Semifinalist, Argentina, Study/Research
Marcus Johnson, Semifinalist, Dominican Republic, Study/Research
Lucas Olson, Semifinalist, Finland, Study/Research
Olga Vilkotskaya, English major: Semifinalist, Belarus, English Teaching Assistantship
2011 - 2012
Willy Cheung, Class of 2011, Computer Science major: Finalist (declined), Austria, English Teaching Assistantship
Nicholas Crown, Senior, History and Italian Studies major: Fulbright Student to Italy, English Teaching Assistantship
James Mahady, Class of 2010, Spanish and International Studies major: Fulbright Student to Uruguay, Study/Research
Amy Tseng, Senior, Public Health and Geography major: Fulbright Student to South Korea, English Teaching Assistantship
Nicholas Wong, Class of 2007, Sociology and American Ethnics Studies major: Fulbright Student to Brazil, Study/Research
Alana ZimmermanClass of 2011, Germanics major: Fulbright Student to Germany, English Teaching Assistantship
Kyrstin Andrews, International Studies major: Semifinalist, Dominican Republic, Study/Research
Kaia Chessen, Semifinalist, Ghana, Study/Resarch
Yolanda Eng, Psychology major: Semifinalist, Taiwan, English Teaching Assistantship
Sarah Grover, Psychology major: Semifinalist, Canada, Study/Research
Sara Hefny, Senior, Near Eastern Languages & Civilization major: Semifinalist, United Kingdom, Study/Research
Sherry Kim, Semifinalist, South Korea, Study/Research
Kristen Zipperer, International Studies and International Studies major: Semifinalist, Nepal, Study/Research
2010 - 2011
Martin Allen, Senior, Math and English major: Fulbright Student to Hungary, Study/Research
James Connelly, Senior, Architectural Studies and International Studies major: Fulbright Student to China, Study/Research
Will Damon, Class of 2010, English and Laws, Societies, & Justice major: Fulbright Student to Canada, Study/Research
Brandon Fidler, Senior, Germanics and Music major: Fulbright Student to Germany, English Teaching Assistantship
Elizabeth Hiskey, Senior, English and French major: Fulbright Student to Belgium, English Teaching Assistantship
Kenny Li, Class of 2011, International Studies major: Fulbright Student to South Korea, English Teaching Assistantship
Taylor Mann, Spanish and History major: Fulbright Student to Spain, English Teaching Assistantship
Kristen Olson, Class of 2005, International Studies major: Fulbright Student to Georgia, English Teaching Assistantship
Cory William Potts, Class of 2010, French and English major: Fulbright Student, Belgium, Study/Research
Christopher Raastad, Senior, Mathematics and Computer Science major: Fulbright Student to Estonia, Study/Research
Eric Ravet, Senior, Chemical Engineering major: Fulbright Student to Switzerland, Study/Research
Jordan Swarthout, Senior, International Studies and Russian Language & Literature major: Fulbright Student to Russia, English Teaching Assistantship
Nicholas Wong, American Ethnic Studies and Sociology major: Alternate, Brazil, Study/Research
Anna Xue, Geography major: Alternate, Norway, Study/Research
Lindsey Einhaus, Philosophy and History major: Semifinalist, European Union, Study/Research
Azmera Melashu, International Studies major, Semifinalist, Egypt, English Teaching Assistantship
Andrew Reed, Semifinalist, Denmark, Study/Research
2009 - 2010
Masha Burina, 2007 Graduate, Economics and International Studies major: Fulbright Student to Croatia, Study/Research
Glorya Cho, Class of 2007, Economics and International Studies major: Fulbright Student to Zambia, Study/Research
Maria Hoisington, Class of 2009, Latin American studies major: Fulbright Student to El Savador, Study/Research
Joji Kohjima, Senior, International Studies major: Fulbright Student to South Korea, Study/Research
Samson Lim, Senior, International Studies major: Fulbright Student to Germany, Study/Research
Sarah Munger, Senior, English Literature major: Fulbright Student to Indonesia, English Teaching Assistantship
Meleah Paull, International Studies and Geography major: Fulbright Student to Slovenia, Study/Research
Caitlin Pratt, Senior, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations majorFulbright Student to Morocco, English Teaching Assistantship
Nathan Snyder, Senior, International Studies and Economics major: Fulbright Student to China, Study/Research
Rachael Stovall, Senior, Public Health and French major: Fulbright Student to, Jordan, Study/Research
Christina Ygona, Class of 2006, Business Administration (Marketing) and Communications major: Fulbright Student to the Philippines, Study/Research
Matthew Richardson, English and European Studies major, Alternate, Germany, Study/Research
Britten Ferguson, Semifinalist, Mexico, Study/Research
William Potts, Semifinalist, France, Study/Research
2008 - 2009
Monica Barrett, Business major: Fulbright Student to European Union, Study/Research
Alexandra Duncan, European Studies and Germanics major: Fulbright Student to Germany, English Teaching Assistantship
Cameron Rule, Russian Studies major: Fulbright Student to Estonia, Study/Research
Alva Robinson, Near Eastern Language & Civilization major: Fulbright Student to Kyrgyz Republic, Study/Research
Sandley Chou, International Studies and History majors: Alternate, Philippines, Study/Research
Kimberly Bailey: Semi-Finalist, Germany, English Teaching Assistantship
2007 - 2008
Cadence McAfee, International Studies major: Fulbright Student to Russia, English Teaching Assistantship
Sarah Parton, Dance major: Fulbright Student to Netherlands, Research
2006 - 2007
Kimberly Cheong, Biochemistry major: Fulbright Student to South Korea, English Teaching Assistantship