Eleven Columbia College, Engineering, and General Studies affiliates awarded 2018-2019 Fulbright U.S. Student grants

Seven Columbia College students and two alumni have received 2018-2019 Fulbright U.S. Student grants, which offer funding for students and young professionals to undertake individually-designed international research and study projects or primary and secondary school teaching in English-language classrooms.

“We are very pleased that our students continue to find success within the U.S. Fulbright Student Program, which is indicative of Columbia’s commitment to global education,” said Scott Carpenter, associate dean of global education and fellowships.

Danny Li CC'18, a philosophy major, has received Fulbright’s prestigious UK Partnership Award. Given to approximately 40 American students each year, the award will enable him to study towards a degree in legal and political theory at University College London.

Four students have received Fulbright English Teaching Assistant awards to teach English around the world. Kaitlin Hickey CC’18, a history major, will teach in France; Maleeha Chida CC’18, an English major, will teach in Spain; Alexandra Fay CC’18, a history major, will teach in Russia; and Paula Pineros Medina CC’18, a linguistics major, will teach in Russia.

Four College affiliates received Fulbright Open Study/Research awards and will design their own projects in countries around the world. Emmalina Glinskis CC’17, an environmental science major, will research carbon sequestration potential of shade-grown coffee agroforestry in the Western Ghats in India; Trevor Menders CC’18, an East Asian studies major, will research the American impact on art history in Meiji, Japan.; Amber Officer-Narvasa CC’18, a sociology major, will study early Hindi film in Trinidad and Tobago; and Samuel Sugerman CC’17 will research literary ideals of humanity and the birth of progressive education in Germany.

In addition, Aaron Appelle SEAS’18 received an Open Study/Research Award to do research in Switzerland. and Benjamin Arenstein GS'18 received an English Teaching Assistantship Award to Uzbekistan.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards approximately 1,900 grants annually in all fields of study and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide. Fulbright U.S. Student Program alumni populate a range of professions and include ambassadors, members of Congress, judges, heads of corporations, university presidents, journalists, artists, professors and teachers.

During their grant periods, Fulbrighters meet, work, live with and learn from the people of their host country, sharing daily experiences and thereby promoting mutual understanding.

“Fulbright’s mission to promote mutual understanding between peoples of the world has never felt more relevant. These students are poised to contribute their energy and talents to this mission. At the same time, they are also deepening their areas of academic inquiry and their professional development in a variety of exciting ways,” Carpenter added. “We could not be more proud of this year’s Fulbrighters.”