The University of Georgia’s record-breaking number of acceptances for the Fulbright U.S. student program this year earned the university its highest ranking yet on the student list of Fulbright Top Producers. The university tied for 16th—along with Stanford University, University of Virginia, University of Texas at Austin, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Villanova University—in its third time on the student list.
Sixteen UGA students and recent graduates are participating in the 2018-2019 Fulbright U.S. student program. They are teaching English, conducting research and studying in countries spread around the globe.
UGA previously made the top student list in 2012-2013 and 2016-2017, with 13 students accepting Fulbright awards in both of those competitions.
“I am pleased that the University of Georgia is once again among the top producers of Fulbright students and that our ranking continues to rise,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “UGA is proud of the students and alumni who will represent the university as they pursue their academic and career goals and build relationships with communities around the world.”
Flagship program
The Fulbright U.S. student program offers research, study and teaching opportunities in more than 140 countries to recent college graduates and graduate students. As the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Fulbright is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and countries worldwide.
“As a top producer, UGA is positioned among an elite group of institutions,” said Maria de Rocher, campus Fulbright U.S. student program adviser and assistant director of the Honors Program. “This is a campus-wide accomplishment. Our 16 Fulbrighters represent a diversity of backgrounds and areas of study, and include undergraduates, both within and outside the Honors Program, and graduate students.”
Seven UGA students and recent alumni received Fulbright academic and creative grants. They are listed below alphabetically with their study concentrations and host countries:
- Jennifer Alexander, waste management strategies, Vietnam.
- Katherine Cheng, microcredit and cash transfer programs, Brazil.
- Kristen Gleason, environmental theory and aesthetics in the contemporary arctic, Norway.
- Jonathan McCombs, urban geography, Hungary.
- Michelle Paterick, curriculum of Finnish public schools, Finland.
- Keysa Rosas-Rodriguez, effects of palm oil expansion on freshwater resources, Mexico.
- Nicholas Twiner, syntactic theory and sociolinguistics, United Kingdom.
Nine alumni received Fulbright English teaching assistantship awards. They are listed below alphabetically by their host countries:
- Brazil: Lilian Zhu.
- Colombia: Shornima KC.
- Malaysia: Kara Pemberton.
- South Korea: Rachel Kelley and Maggie Little.
- Spain: Elizabeth Jennings, Laura Moeller and Rachel Tepper.
- Vietnam: Caroline Beadles.
For more information on the Fulbright U.S. student program, see online or contact Maria de Rocher at 706-542-6908 or derocher@uga.edu.
