The Fulbright U.S. Student Alumni Ambassador Program was established in 2008 to identify, train and engage a select group of approximately 15 Fulbright U.S. Student Program alumni each year to serve as representatives, recruiters and spokespersons for the Fulbright Program. They are selected annually through recommendations from Fulbright Commissions and U.S. Embassy staff, area managers, the Fulbright Student Program Outreach Division and are approved by the sponsor of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors come from an array of different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, states, fields of study, institutions; they have participated in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program in all world areas.
Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors represent the program's rich diversity and play a key role in increasing knowledge about Fulbright opportunities. They provide testimonials about their Fulbright experiences at conferences and campus presentations and offer application tips in written articles, video and podcast interviews, webinars and at special events throughout the United States. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program relies on the Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors to mentor potential applicants, sharing what a Fulbright grant is really like, along with how to address the challenges of living abroad successfully and how best to meet the Fulbright Program's ultimate goal—to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other countries.
Lyuba Basin
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Argentina, 2015-2016
Lyuba Basin
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Argentina, 2015-2016
In the small town of Santa Rosa, located in the heart of
Argentina's pampas, Lyuba assisted in the English Teacher Training
program at the National University of La Pampa. As a Fulbright
English Teaching Assistant, she focused on the development of
academic and creative writing skills through the use of literature,
art, and meaningful cross-cultural discussions. Lyuba encouraged
students to engage locally and globally by introducing them to
contemporary authors whose literary works fostered intellectual and
social movements. In addition to working at the university, Lyuba
was able to travel throughout Argentina and South America, spending
some time to better understand the language and culture. Her unique
experiences abroad allowed her to develop her own creative essays
and writing in the form of book arts, which she eagerly shared with
her colleagues and students. Lyuba is now on the way to receiving
her MA in World Languages and Literature at the University of
Utah.
Ryan Bell
Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellow Russia and Kazakhstan, 2015-2016
Ryan Bell
Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellow Russia and Kazakhstan, 2015-2016
Ryan traveled through Russia and Kazakhstan visiting cattle
ranches built with the help of cowboys from the United States. His
research aim was to examine food security laws aimed at rebuilding
agriculture in the post-Soviet era. The journey was a homecoming of
sorts. In 2010, Ryan was among the first wave of cowboys to work in
Russia, where he helped build a ranch in the Black Earth region of
Voronezh. By returning five years later, he saw what has become of
the cattle industry he helped to create. His research took him up
and down the food supply chain, from pasture to plate, writing
along the way for NationalGeographic.com. The reporting from his
fellowship won a Gold Award at the 2016 Lowell Thomas Travel
Journalism Awards. Ryan now works as a freelance writer and
photographer specializing in food and agriculture. Learn more about
his work at: ryantbell.com.
David Bernstein
Fulbright U.S. Student in Business Luxembourg, 2013-2014
David Bernstein
Fulbright U.S. Student in Business Luxembourg, 2013-2014
In the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, David earned a Master in
Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the University of Luxembourg.
As part of his degree program, David interned at Silicon
Luxembourg, a rapidly growing media and event planning startup
designed to highlight the blossoming entrepreneurial spirit within
the country. He further supported the growth of the entrepreneurial
environment within Luxembourg by partaking in a number of business
initiatives at the U.S. Embassy Luxembourg, including as host of a
talk show with a distinguished American entrepreneur and as the
emcee of numerous high school startup competitions. David believes
that the entrepreneurial spirit drives innovation, including within
his main passion - healthcare. Indeed, he has published a number of
articles in peer-reviewed journals analyzing healthcare trends and
looking at innovative ways to improve patient care. Currently,
David is a dual MD/MBA student at the University of Rochester
School of Medicine & Dentistry and Simon Business School in
Rochester, New York, as well as the Association of American Medical
Colleges Organization of Student Representatives (AAMC OSR)
National Chair-Elect.
Benjamin spent just under a year researching and writing about
Ghana's rich musical history, culture and educational
infrastructure. He wrote articles for Afropop Worldwide,
OkayAfrica, SIT and his own music websites, while mtvU also
featured his video web-series called 'Da Hip Life,' showcasing some
of the talented artists he met. After connecting with Dr. Royal
Hartigan, another Fulbright alum, he signed on to help shoot a
documentary that combined traditional Ghanaian regional music with
Western Jazz. The final component of his fellowship featured a
fundraising campaign for The Bizung School for Music and Dance in
Tamale, Ghana. Bizung was eventually able to purchase a new van and
expand their reach drastically! Ben, having returned to his
hometown of San Francisco, continues to write about music and arts
for BayArea.com, Da-What.com, VIVA Lifestyle among others.
Samantha Costello
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Azerbaijan, 2013-2014
Samantha Costello
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Azerbaijan, 2013-2014
In Azerbaijan, Samantha was a Fulbright English Teaching
Assistant at the Azerbaijani Diplomatic Academy (ADA University) in
Baku, where she taught English for Academic Purposes to college
freshmen. Along with her local colleagues at ADA, Samantha designed
and implemented coursework for students across a variety of
language skill sets. In addition to her work in the English
Language department, Samantha helped to establish a student-led
debate team at ADA. Though it started with a small group of
students, the debate team quickly grew to include students from
universities throughout Baku, and eventually created an informal
network of American Parliamentary debate programs in the city. Upon
completion of her Fulbright year, Samantha stayed on at ADA
University as a full-time teacher. She worked with her local
counterpart to found the university's Public Speaking and Debate
Program, designing a series of foundation public speaking and
business negotiation courses. Samantha also continued on as a coach
for the university's growing debate team, proudly watching on as
her students competed in international competitions. Samantha is
currently an M.S. candidate at Syracuse University's iSchool, where
she is pursuing a degree in Information Systems Management. After
graduation, she hopes to return to the Caucasus region to use her
skills as a debater-turned-teacher for educational policy
development.
History Estill-Varner
Fulbright U.S. Student in Interpretation/Translation the Dominican Republic, 2015-2016
History Estill-Varner
Fulbright U.S. Student in Interpretation/Translation the Dominican Republic, 2015-2016
While in the Dominican Republic, History investigated and
assessed the current sign language interpreting services available
to the Dominican Deaf community. Collaborating with the country's
national interpreting association, as well as the national Deaf
association, she contributed to the ongoing endeavor of
establishing an interpreter training program. Through her research,
she identified service deficiencies and provided the interpreting
association with recommendations that would enable interpreters to
better serve and empower the Deaf community. Outside of her
research, she was involved in community events and volunteered her
interpreting services. She also advised a local organization,
Instituto Dominicano de Desarrollo Integral, on how to adapt their
presentation on climate change to meet the needs of Deaf audiences.
Upon returning home, History relocated to Washington, DC to work as
an American Sign Language Interpreter and was hired as a Program
Director with Discovering Deaf Worlds, a non-profit organization
that focuses on advancing the self determination of signing Deaf
communities by strengthening local capacity in developing
countries.
M Jackson
Fulbright U.S. Student in Geography Iceland, 2015-2016
M Jackson
Fulbright U.S. Student in Geography Iceland, 2015-2016
In 2015-2016, as the inaugural recipient of the
Fulbright-National Science Foundation Arctic Student Research
grant, M Jackson conducted doctoral research on the south coast of
Iceland in the Austur-Skaftafellssýsla region to better understand
the geographies of glaciers. Interviewing 196 Icelandic men and
women living around the town of Hofn, M researched how local
glaciers were continuously contested, imagined and re-imagined,
negotiated at diverse scales, and transformed by individuals and
communities living near ice. Icelanders have been interacting with
glaciers since the island was settled in the ninth century;
however, in present times, the country's glaciers are rapidly
disappearing. Iceland is not alone-glaciers worldwide are changing
at unprecedented rates. Examination of the human aspects of glacial
change acts as a key point of departure to better understand not
only local climatic changes, but also the transformation of the
world's cultural landscapes. This research builds on M's previous
2011-2012 Fulbright U.S. Student grant to Turkey. M is currently an
Arctic Expert for the National Geographic Society and a PhD
candidate at the University of Oregon.
Katlin Kraska
Fulbright U.S. Student in Environmental Studies Indonesia, 2013-2014
Katlin Kraska
Fulbright U.S. Student in Environmental Studies Indonesia, 2013-2014
Katie's longstanding interest in animals and the social
dimensions of science led her to conduct a Fulbright Study/Research
grant in Indonesia about wildlife tourism, conservation ethics, and
the politics of national parks. Each of the four national parks in
which she worked harbored a different charismatic megafauna
species: Javan Rhinoceros, Komodo Dragon, Bornean Orangutan, and
Sumatran Elephant-as well as a unique socio-political relationship
between stakeholders in the area. The research Katie conducted
contributed to policy planning and best practices for the
Indonesian government and NGOs. She continued her studies at the
London School of Economics and Political Science, completing a
master's degree in philosophy and public policy, with an emphasis
on bioethics. She currently works in the Scientific Responsibility,
Human Rights, and Law program of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science on ethics and rights based approaches to
people, animals, and the environment.
Sarah Lightfoot Vidal
Fulbright U.S. Student in Engineering Chile, 2013-2014
Sarah Lightfoot Vidal
Fulbright U.S. Student in Engineering Chile, 2013-2014
In Concepción, Chile, Sarah conducted biomaterials research at
el Centro de Investigación de Polímeros Avanzados (CIPA) in
collaboration with la Universidad de Concepción. Under the
advisement of Dra. Saddys Rodríguez-Llamazares and Dra. Mónica
Pérez Rivera, she synthesized and characterized nanoparticles from
a biologically-derived polyester,
polyhydroxybuytrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV), which encapsulated
quercetin, a polyphenol with anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory
properties. Ultimately, the nanoparticles could be used as a model
system for encapsulating Chilean vegetable extracts. The work Sarah
conducted through Fulbright was recently published in the Journal
of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers. Apart from her Fulbright
studies, she apprenticed with a jewelry designer and learned to
silversmith -an incredible experience – during her grant.
Currently, she is a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering at
Tufts University where she is developing an in vitro, full
thickness human skin model.
Shondrea McCargo
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Malaysia, 2015-2016
Shondrea McCargo
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Malaysia, 2015-2016
In Malaysia, Shondrea developed and implemented English lessons
at a secondary school in Pahang, Malaysia. During her grant, she
became actively involved in a weekly workshop, focused on
developing confidence, self-awareness, and expression through
poetry writing and performance. In addition to classroom
engagement, she coordinated and led weekend English camps. These
camps helped to further develop educational and interpersonal
skills among students. Shondrea considers her Fulbright experience
as the most memorable in her life thus far. Currently, she lives in
Baltimore, Maryland and is teaching elementary school and pursuing
a master's degree in sociology.
Aaron Sayama
Fulbright-Clinton Public Policy Fellow Timor-Leste, 2015 2016
Aaron Sayama
Fulbright-Clinton Public Policy Fellow Timor-Leste, 2015 2016
In Timor-Leste, Aaron served as a Special Assistant in the
Office of the National Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice.
Aaron was the lead writer for Timor-Leste’s Universal Periodic
Review (UPR) report, coordinating among the Ministries of Justice,
Health, and Education. Aaron also assisted the Good Governance
Directorate in developing training sessions and a training manual
on governing standards for public servants on topics such as fiscal
responsibility and maladministration. He completed an independent
situational analysis on community policing in Timor-Leste and
presented at the 2016 Fulbright ASEAN conference in Jakarta,
Indonesia. Aaron is currently the Manager of Programs and Business
Development at the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association
(EMPEA).
In India, Shayak studied the potential of more stringent air
pollution control from the country’s coal-fired power plants. While
they are still used to meet India’s growing energy demands, coal
power plants contribute to climate change and deteriorate air
quality through largely uncontrolled air pollutant emissions. For
his Fulbright, Shayak was based at the Indian Institute of
Technology, Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) where he used one of the most
powerful supercomputers in India to simulate the impacts of Indian
coal power plants on the country’s atmosphere. In addition to his
time at IIT Kanpur, Shayak also conducted field visits to several
coal power plants in the eastern state of West Bengal. During his
field visits, he had the opportunity to speak with operators and
engineers and understand how the industry complies with India’s
environmental laws, including new proposed regulations announced
during his grant period. Additionally, Shayak also contributed to
an English-teaching program and a rural technology development
organization on campus. Shayak is currently a PhD student in the
Department of Engineering and Public Policy and the Center for
Atmospheric Particle Studies at Carnegie Mellon University, where
he studies the connections between energy, air pollution, and
climate change.
Lin Shi
Fulbright U.S. Student in Economics Belgium (European Union), 2013-2014
Lin Shi
Fulbright U.S. Student in Economics Belgium (European Union), 2013-2014
As a retirement actuary helping employers plan for their
employees’ retirement, Lin noted the industry’s trend of employees
taking on an increasing amount of risks and responsibilities to
ensure their own retirement. This, coupled with international
population aging trends and the fallout of the 2008 financial
crisis, inspired Lin to study pension systems in more detail
internationally. As a Fulbright-Schuman grantee to the European
Union, Lin conducted research in the Center of Research in Public
Economics and Population Economics at the University of Liège (in
Belgium) and the Erasmus School of Economics at Erasmus University
Rotterdam (in the Netherlands). She co-authored two published
papers regarding workforce exit trends and the diversity of pension
fund governance with her professors and fellow researchers in Liège
and in Rotterdam. Additionally, she was invited to present her
research at the annual Fulbright Berlin conference. Lin is
currently a researcher and consultant in the financial wellness
specialty group at Mercer Consulting, working to provide innovative
ways to help her clients’ employees improve their financial
health.
Benjamin Simington
Fulbright U.S. Student India in History, 2015-2016
Benjamin Simington
Fulbright U.S. Student India in History, 2015-2016
In India, Benjamin conducted his research on the rituals and
social dynamics of the renunciants of the Kabir Chaura Monastery in
Varanasi, India. Kabir Chaura is one of the most important sites of
the Kabir Panth, a religious community of India. Benjamin focused
on the significance of memory and the ways in which Kabir, the
medieval poet-saint who inspired the creation of the Kabir Panth,
is remembered in both ritual and everyday life. In addition to his
research, Benjamin studied Advanced Hindi with his beloved Hindi
Guru, Mr. Virendra Singh. He also made it a goal to visit a variety
of pilgrimage centers throughout India, such as Bodh Gaya, which is
the place where the Buddha reached enlightenment. Benjamin is
currently a Program Coordinator for National Fellowships and
University Scholars at Texas A&M University in College Station,
Texas.
Gwyneth Talley
Fulbright U.S. Student in Anthropology Morocco, 2015-2016
Gwyneth Talley
Fulbright U.S. Student in Anthropology Morocco, 2015-2016
In the Kingdom of Morocco, Gwyneth conducted preliminary
doctoral research on women’s participation in the traditionally,
male-dominated equestrian display tbourida at local festivals. She
focused on understanding how women get involved with this
tradition, how they train to ride horses and shoot gunpowder
rifles, and how they interact with their male counterparts. The
growing presence of women in this cultural practice demonstrates
the intersection between tradition and modernity, women’s roles in
a Muslim patrilineal society, and human and animal relationships in
equestrian heritage. Gwyneth exhibited her photographic work of the
women horseback riders entitled “Gunpowder Girls.” In addition to
her grant fieldwork, she volunteered at the American Fondouk, an
equine charity hospital in Fes, where she acted as a translator
between Moroccan donkey, mule, and horse owners, and University of
Glasgow veterinary students. On her return from Morocco, Gwyneth
was invited to her undergraduate university to speak about
Fulbright opportunities and her research since graduation, and to
encourage more interest in the program. Gwyneth is a PhD candidate
at the University of California–Los Angeles. Follow her on
Instagram: WanderinGwyneth
Michael Verlezza
Fulbright U.S. Student in Economics Canada, 2014-2015
Michael Verlezza
Fulbright U.S. Student in Economics Canada, 2014-2015
In Canada, Michael conducted a comparative economic policy
analysis of veteran mental healthcare at the Canadian Institute for
Military and Veteran Health Research. Working closely with
colleagues at the Royal Military College and Queen's University,
his research in this area focused on the effects of government
spending on returning veterans, finding that how dollars are spent
(rather than how many) have a more significant impact in
controlling PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and suicide. In
addition, he completed a Master of Science in Mathematics and
Statistics in the field of Game Theory at Queen's University. Since
returning from Ontario, he has entered private industry.
Yuriy Veytskin
Fulbright U.S. Student in Engineering Australia, 2013-2014
Yuriy Veytskin
Fulbright U.S. Student in Engineering Australia, 2013-2014
In Melbourne, Australia, Yuriy spent 12 months on the Fulbright
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
(CSIRO) postgraduate scholarship, in collaboration with the
University of Melbourne, investigating the role of nanotechnology
and the future of unconventional resources through his shale
research. He used microscale techniques such as atomic force
microscopy, x-ray spectroscopy, and other ultra-high precision
methods to characterize shale by linking microstructure and
mineralogy to bulk material properties and performance. The goal
was ultimately to provide insights into how to improve the
efficiency of hydraulic fracturing technology by understanding how
fracking fluids flow through fractured gas shale reservoirs and how
the various chemical additives affect the accessibility of fracking
fluids to the fracture network. Another broad impact was
understanding the significant global competition to be 'first in
line' when it comes to research and development, and large-scale
application for sustainable energy sources and energy harvesting
practices. Collaborating with CSIRO, the University of Melbourne,
and the Australian Resources Research Centre gave Yuriy both
invaluable topflight research connections and the versatility to
position his future career in various potential directions by
incorporating a broader theme into his research. When not in the
lab, Yuriy traveled across the country, learned about Australia's
rich history and sporting culture, and made lifelong friends from
all walks of life. Yuriy is currently a postdoctoral researcher at
Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Mia Warren
Fulbright U.S. Student in Creative Writing Peru, 2013-2014
Mia Warren
Fulbright U.S. Student in Creative Writing Peru, 2013-2014
In Peru, Mia concentrated her research within the Japanese
Peruvian (nikkei) community in Lima. At the Japanese Peruvian
Cultural Center, she conducted interviews with elderly members of
the nikkei community about their experiences during WWII, a time of
intense xenophobia against Japanese Peruvians. Based on these
interviews, Mia collaborated with sociologist and actor Eric Aso on
a theatrical play script, 'La Lista Negra,' which later placed as a
winner in a local playwriting competition. Mia currently works as a
Facilitator for StoryCorps, a nonprofit oral history project based
in Brooklyn, NY.
Tanisha Williams
Fulbright U.S. Student in Ecology South Africa, 2015-2016
Tanisha Williams
Fulbright U.S. Student in Ecology South Africa, 2015-2016
In South Africa, Tanisha's research focused on how indigenous
flora will respond and adapt to climate changes throughout the Cape
Floristic Region. She was the first Fulbright U.S. Student to have
ever conducted research at the Cape Peninsula University of
Technology and was well received as a part of the postgraduate and
university community. She conducted germination experiments on
select species within the Pelargonium genus, as well as, genetic
sampling of Pelargonium populations throughout the country. During
her grant period, she propagated over 1,500 plants that are now
growing in reciprocal transplant gardens at the Kirstenbosch
Botanical Garden (Cape Town, Western Cape) and at Rhodes University
(Grahamstown, Eastern Cape). She also led two field trips
throughout the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape provinces with
undergraduate and graduate students. These trips focused on
ecological and environmental field collecting techniques, specimen
preparations, and data analysis. Separately, Tanisha has collected
hundreds of Pelargonium specimens across 15 field expeditions
throughout South Africa. During the duration of her grant,
Tanisha's cultural engagement activities took on many forms. She
volunteered with two environmental nonprofit organizations, SEED
and GreenPop, performing greenhouse maintenance trainings,
permaculture trainings, assisting in the Rockland's Primary School
Litter Program, and planting orchards at an orphanage during Nelson
Mandela's Day of Service. She also worked with girls from an
improvised township to provide math, science and computer tutoring,
life skills, and empowerment to young girls growing up in unstable
conditions. Tanisha is currently a PhD candidate at the University
of Connecticut in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.