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Eleven 裡橖眻畦ns Win Prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Grants for 2021-22

13 additional students and alumni were selected as alternates and 38 earned recognition as semi-finalists

J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board logo

VILLANOVA, Pa.  The U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has announced the Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for 2021-22, with 11 裡橖眻畦 University students and alumni winning the prestigious awards. In addition to the 11 award recipients, 13 other 裡橖眻畦ns were selected as alternates and 38 earned recognition as semi-finalists. 裡橖眻畦 has been listed among the nations top producers of Fulbright Students for more than a decade, and the University has had at least one student selected for the coveted award each year since 1994. The Fulbright Program is the U.S. governments flagship international educational exchange program, offering students grants to conduct research, study and teach abroad. Top-producing institutions are highlighted annually in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Fulbright recipients meet, work with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences. The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction in the classroom, field, home, and in daily tasks. These experiences allow the grantee to gain an appreciation of others viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. Visit the  to learn more.

The Fulbright competition at 裡橖眻畦 is open to all current undergraduate, graduate, professional students and alumni, and is administered by the Universitys Center for Research and Fellowships (CRF). Students and alumni create an application for the fellowship program under the direction of the CRF teamwhich provides both one-on-one consultations and group support throughout the application process, including conceptualization of projects, writing and revising proposals, and interview preparation and practice.

裡橖眻畦 students and alumni interested in applying for external awards, including the Fulbright, should visit the CRF website for more information.

The 11 裡橖眻畦ns awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Grants are:

Christopher Bragan癟a (21 CLAS), of Hollywood, MD, graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. He has conducted research on the 26S proteasome in the Kraut Lab for over three years. During that time, Bragan癟a has been named a Beckman Scholar and a Goldwater Scholar, and he has been published as a primary author in a research journal. As a Fulbright Research grantee, he will continue his work on the proteasome under the tutelage of Dr. Nico Dantuma at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Bragan癟a will study how the proteasome is affected in neuron subtypes commonly afflicted by neurodegenerative disorders. Upon return from Sweden, Bragan癟a will pursue an MD/PhD or an MD/MS to pursue a career in medicine and research.

Sean Conner ('21 CLAS) of Newtown, PA, graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Political Science. While at 裡橖眻畦, he was involved in VUnited and 裡橖眻畦 Special Olympics and interned at the Philadelphia Justice Project for Women and Girls. His past study abroad experience in the Czech Republic led him to want to conduct research on a Fulbright grant. He was awarded a research Fulbright in Spain, exploring Spain's renewable energy initiatives using GIS to analyze land use and territorial management. Conner has declined the Fulbright to pursue graduate work at Georgetown, but he will continue to pursue research related to environmental policy and policy implementation.  

Shama Huq ('21 CLAS-Master's) of Howell, NJ, graduated with a Master of Science degree from the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with minors in English and Physics from Rutgers University-New Brunswick. At 裡橖眻畦, she serves as the VP of Philanthropy for Graduate Student Council and Secretary of Psi Chi Honor Society. She is presently working on her thesis in Dr. Ben Sachs' lab, exploring the effects of therapeutic ketamine in a stress paradigm on depression, anxiety, and suicide endophenotypes. Huq will spend her Fulbright year conducting research in Dr. Rosemary Bagot's lab at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, exploring the role of the vHIP-NAc pathway in mediating early life stress effects. Upon her return to the U.S., she will pursue a PhD in neuroscience.

Lauren Hurley (21 CLAS) of Cherry Hill, NJ, graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Physics, a Bachelor of Arts in French and Francophone Studies, and a minor in Honors. A Presidential Scholar, Hurley aspires to lead research on materials to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic cells. Her undergraduate research experiences include an internship at the CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) and a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the University of Colorado Boulder. During her Fulbright year, she will complete a masters program at Ecole Normale Sup矇rieure Paris-Saclay called M2 Physics and Energy Engineering: New Technologies for Energy. Upon the completion of this program, she will return to the U.S. to pursue a PhD in Electrical Engineering at CU Boulder. 

Jessica McKean (21 COE) of Starksboro, VT, graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Biochemical Engineering. She has pursued undergraduate research in the field of cellular and genetic engineering which has led to a deep interest for the interdisciplinary opportunity within the fields of biology, material science, civil engineering and architecture. She will spend her Fulbright year diving into this interdisciplinary work at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland where she will be researching the potential of genetically engineering bacteria to improve a sustainable bio-cement technology. This study will be part of a Masters by Research degree in Geo-Environmental Engineering within the universitys Civil and Environmental Engineering department. Following her Fulbright year, McKean will pursue further graduate studies in Architectural Engineering where she hopes to bring creative and sustainable ideas about material science.

Grace May (21 CLAS), of Libertyville, IL, graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Peace and Justice. May spent her time at 裡橖眻畦 engaged in a variety of different activities, including tutoring students in Norristown, leading multiple Service Learning experiences, and mentoring prison inmates at SCI Phoenix who were pursuing a Bachelor's degree. A future educator, she will serve as an English Teaching Assistant in Italy, where she will use her fluent Italian and past study abroad experience to build meaningful relationships with her students and community.

Alyssa Murphy ('17 CLAS) of Canton, CT, graduated in December 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Classical Studies. She has spent the last three years in Clarksdale, Mississippi teaching Middle School Science. Murphy was awarded teacher of the year for the 2020-21 academic year and coached both track and basketball teams. As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in the Czech Republic, she will work at a Business Academy and General Education School. She will study the successful and intricate system of specialized high schools the Czech Republic has to offer to prepare successful young adults for the workforce. Upon her return to the U.S., Murphy will work to reform education policies to better support students living in low income and rural communities.

Tia Parisi (21 CLAS), of Madison, WI, graduated in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a degree in Honors, and minors in Creative Writing and Spanish. Eager to learn about biotechnology and clinical trials from a global perspective and sponsored by the Connelly-Delouvrier Scholarship for International Study, Parisi spent her 2020 Spring semester in Stockholm, Sweden, studying Translational Medicine. Upon her return to 裡橖眻畦, she continued her role as the President of 裡橖眻畦s literary magazine, Ellipsis, and her engagement in the Orientation Program. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she ultimately declined her Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in the Czech Republic, but looks forward to growing her knowledge of biology, publication, and cultural stewardship in future endeavors.

Michaela Scott (21 CLAS) of Baltimore, MD, graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, and minors in Global Health, French, and Africana Studies. She spent her time as a Producer for 裡橖眻畦s Social Justice Documentary program, and as Co-President for 裡橖眻畦s chapter of Volunteers Around the World. Her junior year she spent a semester studying in Cape Town, South Africa which confirmed her desire to study public health on an international scale. Scott will spend her Fulbright year teaching English at a nursing school in the Czech Republic, advocating for womens empowerment and leading a photography club for her students. Upon her return, Scott will pursue a Masters degree in Public Health, specifically focusing on the health of women and children.

Jackson Sweeney ('21 CLAS), of St. Paul, MN, graduated this spring with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Global Interdisciplinary Studies-Asian Studies. After studying abroad in Beijing, China during the fall of 2019, he is excited to continue strengthening his Mandarin Chinese language skills and learning more about Taiwan's politics. He will spend his grant year as an English Teaching Assistant in Taichung, Taiwan, one of the country's most populous cities. Upon returning to the U.S., he hopes to pursue a career founded in political activism aimed at creating a more sustainable and equitable agricultural system. 

Philip Yang (21 CLAS) of Plattsburgh, NY, graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Geography. After traveling on a 裡橖眻畦 abroad language program in China the summer of 2018, he decided to become a global citizen concerned about environmental conservation and sustainability. A member of Alpha Phi Omega and Phi Beta Kappa, he was also an active basketball player as the Vice President of Mens Club Basketball and a practice player for the 裡橖眻畦 womens team. As a Fulbright researcher in the Philippines, he will study sustainable fisheries practices and work at a local environmental legal assistance center. Upon his return from his Fulbright year, he will pursue a PhD in marine science or geography. 

裡橖眻畦ns recognized as Fulbright U.S. Student Alternates are:

  • Sara Allen 21 CLAS, Political Science and GIS: Arab and Islamic Studies, Study-Research in Oman
  • Marcella Andersen 21 CLAS, Theology, English Teaching Assistantship in Lithuania
  • Chloe Benson 21 CLAS, Communication and Peace and Justice, Study-Research in United Kingdom
  • Erin Bogacki 21 CLAS, Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience, Study-Research in United Kingdom
  • Nick Carney 16 VSB, Marketing, Study-Research in Spain
  • Hailey Clark 21 FCN, Nursing, English Teaching Assistantship in Bulgaria                               
  • Rocco D'Ascanio 21 COE, Chemical Engineering, Study-Research in Italy
  • Michael Digiacomo 20 COE, Computer Engineering, English Teaching Assistantship in Uzbekistan
  • Madhat Fares 21 COE, Civil Engineering, Study-Research in Netherlands
  • Corinne Gillenwater 21 CLAS, Political Science, Study-Research in Netherlands
  • Grace May 21 CLAS, Political Science, English Teaching Assistantship in Italy
  • Anthony Petrosino 21 CLAS, Mathematics and Political Science, English Teaching Assistantship in Montenegro       
  • Matthew Planchon 21 CLAS, Biology, Study-Research in Spain
  • Janan Wilson 21 CLAS, Political Science, English Teaching Assistantship in Thailand               

裡橖眻畦ns recognized as Fulbright U.S. Student Semi-Finalists are:

  • Camryn Allen 21 CLAS, Communication and GIS: Africana Studies, English Teaching Assistantship in Rwanda
  • Kasey Barias 21 CLAS, Political Science, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain                                    
  • Simonas Bingelis 21 VSB, Business Administration, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain        
  • Kathleen Blehl 18 VSB, Marketing, Study-Research in Ukraine
  • Robert Bulka 21 CLAS, Political Science and Humanities, Study-Research in United Kingdom
  • Catherine Canavan 21 VSB, Finance, International Business and Business Analytic, Binational Internship in Mexico
  • Brendan Carew 21 CLAS, Philosophy and Political Science, English Teaching Assistantship in Malaysia
  • Sabrina Carter 18 CLAS, Communication, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain
  • Michelle Charles 21 CLAS, Political Science and Spanish Language and Literature, English Teaching Assistantship in Colombia                                              
  • Juliana Cosenza 21 CLAS, GIS: Arab and Islamic Studies, Study-Research in Jordan
  • Payton Davenport 20 CLAS, Peace and Justice, English Teaching Assistantship in Malaysia 
  • Alison Day 21 CLAS, Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience, English Teaching Assistantship in Indonesia
  • Samantha Decarlo 21 CLAS, Mathematics and Criminology, Study-Research in Germany
  • Anna Dos Santos 21 CLAS, Biology and Spanish Language and Literature, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain     
  • Erin Fabian 21 CLAS, English and Humanities, English Teaching Assistantship in Colombia
  • Robert (Emmet) Fucigna 20 COE, Mechanical Engineering, Study-Research in Finland
  • Katherine Garmer 21 CLAS, Environmental Science, Study Research in Denmark
  • Princess Garrett 18 CLAS, Communication, Study-Research in the Philippines
  • Catherine Hamilton 18 VSB, International Business and Marketing, English Teaching Assistantship in Malaysia                                
  • Taylor Hinch 21 CLAS, Political Science and Peace and Justice, Study-Research in Finland
  • Theodore Hovivian 21 CLAS, Spanish Language and Literature and GIS: Latin American Studies, Study-Research in Mexico    
  • Lars Hultgren 20 COE, Civil Engineering, Study-Research in Netherlands
  • Bridget LaSala 21 COE, Civil Engineering, English Teaching Assistantship in Indonesia                            
  • Kevin Lu 21 CLAS, Biology and Spanish Language and Literature, English Teaching Assistantship in Colombia
  • Michaela Mazzeo 21 CLAS, Spanish Language and Literature and GIS: Cultural Studies, English Teaching Assistantship in Colombia                                              
  • Kourtney McCoy 21 CLAS, Liberal Arts, English Teaching Assistantship in India
  • William McGhee 21 CLAS, Classics and Communication, English Teaching Assistantship in Malaysia 
  • Michelle Mendez-Castro 21 CLAS, Criminology and French and Francophone Studies, English Teaching Assistantship in Andorra                                              
  • Siobhan Merrill 21 COE, Civil Engineering, English Teaching Assistantship in Malaysia                              
  • Keren Mir-Almaguer 21 CLAS, Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain                        
  • Kaitlyn Naughton 21 CLAS, Biology, English Teaching Assistantship in Brazil                                              
  • Daniel Nomura 21 VSB, Finance, English Teaching Assistantship in Czech Republic                               
  • Michael Podgorski 21 CLAS, Public Administration, English Teaching Assistantship in Germany
  • Christina Prinssen 20 CLAS, Political Science and GIS: Asian Studies, English Teaching Assistantship in South Korea      
  • Kimberly Webb 21 CLAS, History, Study-Research in Czech Republic
  • Caleb Woo 21 CLAS, History and Spanish Language and Literature, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain                   
  • Gary Zeron 20 CLAS, GIS: Arab and Islamic Studies, English Teaching Assistantship in Indonesia
  • Matthew Ziarnik 21 COE, Civil Engineering, English Teaching Assistantship in Macedonia                      

About the Fulbright Program: Since its establishment in 1946, the program has given more than 390,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Fulbrighters address critical global challenges in all disciplines while building relationships, knowledge, and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States and the world.  Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in many fields, including 59 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 84 who have received Pulitzer Prizes and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.

About 裡橖眻畦 University: Since 1842, 裡橖眻畦 Universitys Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six collegesthe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 裡橖眻畦 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 裡橖眻畦 University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nations top universities, 裡橖眻畦 supports its students intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit .