Twenty-nine students and recent alumni have been chosen for Fulbright awards this year, extending Dartmouth’s reach across the globe.
At least two others have been accepted into other programs that involve teaching or scholarship overseas.
“Our Dartmouth Fulbright recipients this year are headed to 17 countries, with awards ranging from English teaching assistantships to research in public health, neuroscience, and international relations,” says Christie Harner, associate dean of undergraduate education for fellowships and scholars programs.
“Their range of personal interests, academic successes, and work experiences, in another large cohort of recipients, is a testament to the strength of our liberal arts education and broad support of students.”
Established in 1946 and administered by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright Program offers participants the opportunity to pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad. Almost 450,000 students, scholars, and other professionals have participated in the program over the years, and Dartmouth has repeatedly been named a top-producing institution for Fulbright awards.
This year’s cohort from Dartmouth includes:
Julia Abbott ’26, a double major in English and economics, will do an English teaching assistantship in Tajikistan.
“Tajikistan’s unique combination of Persian roots, Soviet history, and Silk Road legacy make it a fascinating place to live and teach in. I’ve taught young girls dance, taught college students econometrics, and taught elementary schoolers Hebrew,” Abbott says. “I want to help students learn and love English, just as I’ve helped them solve lagrangians or do a cartwheel: with patience, understanding, and by meeting people at their level.”
Ogochukwu Chiamaka Agali, Geisel, will receive a master’s degree in public health this month and plans an open study/research project in Jordan on fortifying maternal mental health for refugee mothers in Jordan.
Agali’s project, conducted in partnership with UNFPA Jordan and Jordan University of Science and Technology, plans to embed culturally adapted perinatal and postpartum screening for depression into routine maternal care visits and co-design peer-support groups with refugee mothers. “For me, it will bridge my master of public health with my long-term goal of becoming a physician who works with refugee and displaced populations,” Agali says.
Carter Anderson ’26, a double major in government and computational linguistics, has been offered an English teaching assistantship in Taiwan, but has declined.
“As a future policymaker interested in emerging technologies within the Indo-Pacific, I believe that understanding the Mandarin language and Taiwanese culture is critical,” Anderson said in his application. “Effective diplomacy requires mutual understanding, and through teaching, I aim to build these skills in students and in myself.”
Alison Blake ’26, a history major with a minor in Hispanic studies, will be an English teaching assistant in Spain.
“Serving as an ETA in Spain draws me because I seek to create breakthrough moments in classrooms, all while developing the cross-cultural skills essential for law school and further civic advocacy,” Blake says.
Daphna Cohen ’26, a double major in government and French studies, will do an ETA in Belgium.
“As an ambassador of the English language in Belgium, I hope to convey my love of linguistic specificity. Growing up in a bilingual household and two countries, my passion for multiple language learning began early,” she says. “I hope to teach in Belgium to combine my love for French, Flemish, and comparative government topics I have studied for years. I am eager to work with regional governance institutions like NATO and the European Commission, which I have written about and worked within through classes, clubs, and jobs.”
Eric Deeken ’26, a double major in history and music with a minor in Hispanic studies, will do an English teaching assistantship in Colombia.
“This experience will enable me to pursue my professional goals as an immigration lawyer and educator with a broader international perspective and deeper cultural understanding,” Deeken says. “I am also eager to immerse myself in Colombia’s rich cultural life, exploring the salsa musical tradition I am already interested in, engaging with Colombian students through popular culture, and learning about the country’s diverse landscapes and cuisines.”
Sebastian Fernandez ’24, who majored in history with a minor in art history, plans to do an English teaching assistantship in Taiwan.
“As a Cuban American who has studied both Spanish and Mandarin, I view language as a bridge to identity and expression. I hope to create classrooms in Taiwan where English is not just a subject but a tool for students to tell their own stories. This grant is a natural step at this moment in my life, as I prepare for law school and a career in intellectual property law.”
Alyssa Gagen ’26, a biological chemistry major, will be an English teaching assistant in Spain.
“I am passionate about multilingualism, eager to share my own perspectives and ideas in a new place, and excited to immerse myself in the simple pleasures of the Spanish lifestyle,” Gagen says. “I plan to be a doctor in the future, and in this role I want to value patience and intentionality. Premed students are taught how to balance difficult coursework, research, and extracurriculars. However, I also want to bring value to calmness, mindfulness, and personal connection in the medical field.”
Ryan Glenn ’26, an environmental Earth sciences major with a minor in geography, received a community-based combined grant award through the Fulbright program in Austria.
The grant “will provide me with the opportunity to volunteer at an environmental youth organization, take courses at BOKU, and serve as an English teaching assistant,” Glenn says. “I wholeheartedly believe that the youth plays an integral role in shaping policy, and I hope that my volunteer and education work will promote sustainability and facilitate communication between the United States and Austria.”
Thomas Hohmann ’26, a double major in Hispanic studies and biological chemistry, is doing an English teaching assistantship in Spain.
“With medical school on the horizon, an international teaching experience in Galicia, with its distinct language and regional identity, will help me to further develop cross-cultural understanding, a skill that is necessary for maintaining the human connection in medicine across broad populations,” Hohmann says.
“Furthermore, my experience caring for an aging population as an EMT in a small town in rural Vermont is a key motivator for my supplementary project, through which I will provide support for older adults in rural areas and reflect on their life stories.”
Avery Hormaechea ’24, who majored in anthropology with a minor in education, will be a Fulbright ETA in Spain.
“My excitement for an English teaching assistantship in Spain is rooted in my passion for education as a tool for social change,” Hormaechea says.
“Having spent four years in college working as a youth mentor and now in my second year as a full-time teacher, I have immersed myself in the American education system and seen first-hand how thoughtfulness, care, and inclusive instruction can allow students to feel empowered, giving them the language and strategies to pursue their interests and find success in future careers.”
Chelsea Joe ’25, who double majored in neuroscience and computer science, will do a Fulbright English teaching assistantship in Thailand.
“Having grown up moving between Thai and American perspectives, I understand how language and culture shape the way we learn. As an ETA, I aim to create an inclusive learning environment where students feel encouraged to take risks with English, using activities that connect language practice to creativity and collaboration,” Joe says.
“I will also draw on my background in digital arts and educational technology to design engaging materials that help students see language as a tool for expression rather than just memorization.”
India Jones ’25, who majored in environmental Earth sciences with a minor in German, will do an English teaching assistantship in Germany.
“I want to pay forward what great language teachers have given me—the chance to think through complex ideas in another language, shifting focus from mechanics to real communication. That transformation is what makes language learning not just practical, but truly rewarding,” Jones says.
Yasmine Kanaan ’26, an anthropology major with minors in Middle Eastern studies and biology, will do an English teaching assistantship in Turkey.
“The ETA program draws me because at its heart, it is about connection. I’m drawn specifically to Turkey through its dynamic identity and layered history. Having lived between the worlds of East and West my entire life, I am drawn to a country that shines with both,” Kanaan says.
Zander Kurita ’26, a classical languages and literature major with a minor in education, plans an English teaching assistantship in Greece.
“I want to inspire young people in a country where I take so much academic and professional inspiration. The combination of language and the arts can yield incredible results in students as young as my preschoolers to the members of my collegiate a capella group,” Kurita says. “Working in education and the arts in Greece would be the ultimate opportunity for me to strengthen educational outcomes in a country I love.”
Zoey Lin ’26, a comparative literature major, will do an English teaching assistantship in Belgium.
“As a lifelong educator, I’ve learned the importance of fostering inclusive learning communities by valuing diverse perspectives, forging deep connections, and meeting people where they are—skills I’ll leverage as an English teaching assistant in Belgium,” Lin says.
“My passion for mentorship, honed through coaching debate, has prepared me to create supportive learning environments where students feel safe to take language risks. My ETA will also prepare me well to become an international human rights lawyer as I cultivate the skills necessary to bridge linguistic and cultural divides and build trust across borders—vital abilities for a career committed to global justice.”
Samantha Palermo ’24 was a double major in religion and neuroscience and will do an English teaching assistantship in Argentina.
“I am committed to a life of teaching and learning. My father, who served as my earliest and most influential teacher, passed away when I was 13. My commitment to education is my way to honor his legacy,” Palermo says.
“Working as an ETA in Argentina would give me the opportunity to work with a current teacher and a classroom full of future teachers, and I would love to collaborate with others who are as passionate about education as I am. After returning from Fulbright, I hope to earn my master of public health degree in a topic related to emergency medicine or rehabilitation medicine in the rural United States.”
Nandhini Parthasarathy ’26, a neuroscience major with a minor in Hispanic studies, will do a Fulbright ETA in Spain.
“Teaching has been a throughline in my life, from mentoring in college classrooms to supporting families at the Ronald McDonald House and working with a nongovernmental organization in Peru,” Parthasarathy says. “These roles have taught me that effective teaching is rooted in empathy, adaptability, and the ability to build trust across cultural gaps—skills that will guide me in my future career as a physician.”
Evvy Rattray ’26, an environmental studies major with a minor in Hispanic studies, will do an English teaching assistantship in Cyprus.
“The Fulbright ETA in Cyprus would allow me to combine two areas I care deeply about: teaching and the environment,” Rattray says. “With a background in community engagement and environmental studies, I hope to design English lessons that connect to real issues Cypriots face, such as climate change and water scarcity.”
Elysee Sadia, Guarini, works for Dartmouth in Community Standards and Accountability and is a student in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program.
“As a Fulbright English teaching assistant in France, I will unite my passions for education, cultural exchange, and civic leadership,” Sadia says. “My academic and professional journey—from serving as president of Dartmouth’s Graduate Council to mentoring peers through university programs—has been devoted to creating spaces where dialogue, equity, and curiosity thrive. These experiences have taught me that education is not merely the transmission of knowledge, but the building of bridges across differences.”
Christopher Scanlon ’26, a double major in economics and history, will be an English teaching assistant in Greece.
“My experience as a Teaching Fellow in economics, counselor and operations leader for Camp Kesem, and captain of Dartmouth’s First-Year Trips Program has prepared me to teach and lead with empathy, structure, and adaptability,” Scanlon says.
“At Athens College, I hope to design dialogue-driven lessons, mentor writing and debate clubs, and volunteer with youth organizations to extend learning beyond the classroom.”
Om Shah ’26, an anthropology major, will do an English teaching assistantship in Indonesia.
“The Fulbright ETA program offers an opportunity to expand my passion for teaching while immersing myself in a new cultural context. Ultimately, my goal is to refine my teaching skills and continue my path toward becoming an ESL educator in rural communities,” Shah says.
“By applying to Indonesia, I hope to learn how education can bridge cultures and empower students to create better futures.”
Madeleine Shaw ’25, who was a double major in Russian area studies and government with a minor in Middle Eastern studies, will do an open study/research project in Armenia.
“This project aims to assess how the 2025 U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan affects prospects for conflict resolution and recurrence in Nagorno-Karabakh,” Shaw says.
“In collaboration with the International Relations & Diplomacy Program of the American University of Armenia, I will survey young Armenians as well as internally displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh about their views on the recent peace deal and reconciliation initiatives. To complement this survey, I will conduct expert interviews with diplomats, civil society representatives, scholars, and journalists as well as analyze open-source statements and media.”
Kristina Shea, a Guarini master’s degree student in comparative literature, plans a Fulbright ETA in Belgium.
“Teaching in Belgium will allow me to explore how a multilingual environment shapes students’ learning and understanding of their world while also improving my French, German, or Dutch skills, becoming a better teacher, and preparing for my future career as a PhD student and eventually professor of literature,” Shea says. “I am eager to work in any region, and I would particularly value the opportunity to teach at multiple schools operating in different languages.”
Scott Sorensen ’26, an English major with a minor in linguistics, was offered an English teaching assistantship in Greece but declined the award.
“As a future high school English teacher and coach, I am committed to meeting and serving people of all backgrounds. I have worked with a broad cross-section of my own country as a special education assistant, writing tutor, Sunday school teacher, and camp counselor, adjusting to entertain their interests at every level,” Sorensen wrote in his application. “I hope to work with a new community in Greece and become even better at addressing kids’ needs.”
Anna Beth Swain ’24, who majored in biology and minored in Hispanic studies, will be an English teaching assistant in Spain.
“I plan to attend medical school, and I hope to one day be a physician who prioritizes patient education and communicates fluently with my Spanish-speaking patients in Houston. By pushing me to hone my teaching skills and command of Spanish, this ETA will prepare me for both,” Swain says.
Vedant Tapiavala ’26, a neuroscience major, will do an open study/research project in the Netherlands on dementia.
“My proposed research at the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam involves developing a model of modifiable (lifestyle and health behaviors) and unmodifiable (genetic) risk factors behind dementia. Specifically, we’ll use preclinical MRI scans to understand how individuals can maintain brain health and avoid dementia,” Tapiavala says. Tapiavala also plans to volunteer with Alzheimer Nederland, continuing previous work with the Alzheimer’s Association.
Sarah Watson ’26, a double major in biology and French studies, will do an open study/research project titled, “Modulating Lecanemab to Optimize Therapeutic Microglial Responses in Alzheimer’s Disease” at the De Strooper Lab at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research in Belgium.
“This project will help inform the development of safer, more effective Alzheimer’s disease immunotherapies,” Watson says. “As an aspiring physician-scientist with strong interests in AD, this project aligns with my future goal of researching the disease mechanisms presented in my patients to improve therapeutic strategies. Outside the lab, I will explore Belgium’s dementia-friendly cities to learn community-based approaches I can adapt to support patients and caregivers in the U.S.”
Tracy Weener ’26, a double major in computer science and quantitative social science, with a minor in French, will do a Fulbright English teaching assistantship in Taiwan.
“I did not grow up speaking Chinese, nor did I have the chance to meet my grandparents on the island they called home. When I visited Taiwan for the first time in December 2023, as a student journalist and researcher, I was motivated to learn the perspectives of young people,” Weener says. “Teaching English in Taiwan is my way of returning home and helping students explore ways to expand their own.”
In other programs:
Tianxiao Wang ’24, who double majored in environmental studies and biology, has been awarded a Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst, aka DAAD scholarship, to pursue graduate study in Germany.
“Germany offers an ideal context for advancing my studies in natural resource management,” Wang says. “Ultimately, I envision a career contributing to systemic changes in environmental governance, bridging ecological science with policies that are socially and economically viable.”
Prescott Herzog ’25, a double major in history and government, has been awarded a Yenching scholarship to study at Peking University in Beijing.
“I want to contribute to rebuilding trust in America’s institutions. But I’m not naive in recognizing our government’s many shortfalls in upholding its promises to its people. This task requires more than just a domestic approach: it demands an understanding of how other countries and systems have earned or engineered trust with their populations,” Herzog says.
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Students interested in learning about Fulbright awards and other opportunities should visit Dartmouth’s Fellowships Office.
