14 Carolina students awarded Fulbrights for global research and teaching
This year’s recipients represent graduating seniors to doctoral candidates in interdisciplinary fields, including English, biology, public health and political science.
Fourteen students and recent graduates from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have been selected to receive the Fulbright U.S. Student Program award for the 2022-2023 academic year.
The UNC-Chapel Hill recipients are among more than 2,100 U.S. citizens who will study, conduct research or teach abroad for the academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Recipients are selected by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as their record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields.
Awardees address critical global challenges in all disciplines while building relationships, knowledge and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States. This year’s Carolina Fulbright recipients represent graduating seniors to doctoral candidates in multidisciplinary fields, including English, history, public policy and public health.
“The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is a wonderful opportunity for Tar Heels to serve as ambassadors of the university and the United States,” said Barbara Stephenson, vice provost for global affairs. “I’m proud to see such an impressive, interdisciplinary group of Carolina students take this opportunity to address global challenges through education and research in communities around the world.”
This flagship international educational exchange program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and international communities, operating in more than 160 countries. It is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered nationally by the Institute of International Education and through the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Despite COVID-19 related challenges in recent cycles, Fulbright is carrying out the 2023-2024 competition with no changes to the application process. Interested students and recent graduates can learn more about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the UNC-Chapel Hill campus process. The campus deadline for the next cycle is Sept. 22, 2022.
Carolina Fulbright awardees, 2022-2023
- Megan Busbice, a 2022 graduate, was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Spain. Busbice earned a bachelor’s degree in English and global studies.
- Mehal Churiwal, a 2021 graduate, was awarded a grant to conduct research in Uganda for her project, “Environmental Drivers of Pediatric Hydrocephalus in Uganda.” Churiwal earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience.
- Bailey Fernandez, a doctoral student in English and art history, was awarded a grant to conduct research in Austria for his project, “Es Muss Sein: Hegel’s Philosophy of Action and the Vienna School of Art History.”
- Jaqueline Gu, a 2022 graduate, was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Taiwan. Gu earned a bachelor’s degree in quantitative biology and English.
- Maura Kitchens, a 2022 graduate, was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Germany. Kitchens earned a master’s degree in contemporary European studies and geography.
- Mary McCall Leland, a 2020 graduate, was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Argentina. Leland earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies.
- Valerie Nguyen, a 2022 graduate, was awarded a grant to conduct research in the Netherlands for her project, “The Role of Human-Specific Microproteins in Ewing Sarcoma.” Nguyen earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and American studies.
- Timothy Purvis, a 2022 graduate, was awarded a grant to conduct research in Jordan for his project, “The Social Response of Communities to Wastewater Recycling Programs around Amman, Jordan.” Purvis earned a master’s degree in environmental engineering.
- Emma Ray, a 2022 graduate, was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Spain. Ray earned a bachelor’s degree in Hispanic linguistics and English.
- Kobe Spells, a 2022 graduate, was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in the West Bank. Spells earned a bachelor’s degree in political science.
- Dalvin Tsay, a doctoral student in the College of Arts & Sciences’ department of history, was awarded a grant to conduct research in Taiwan for his dissertation, “Taming Monsters: The Birth of Disability in Modern China.
- Amanda Ullman, a doctoral student in the College of Arts & Sciences’ department of city and regional planning, was awarded a grant to conduct research in Colombia for her dissertation, “Coal Community Priorities for a Just Energy Transition in La Guajira, Colombia.”
- Kiera Whalen, a 2019 graduate, was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Germany. Whalen earned a bachelor’s degree in public policy.
- Joyce Yao, a 2020 graduate, was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Taiwan. Yao earned a bachelor’s degree in health policy and management.
