Seventeen University of Georgia students received Fulbright offers for the 2024-2025 academic year, placing UGA among the top producing institutions for Fulbright U.S. students. This is the third year in a row—and the seventh time in 12 years—that UGA has been named a top producer of Fulbright U.S. students.
Of the 17 UGA students and recent alumni who were offered Fulbright awards for 2024-2025, 13 were able to accept. Eight are teaching English in countries including Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Romania, Spain and Taiwan. Five are studying or conducting research; their countries are Brazil, Colombia, Madagascar, Taiwan and Tunisia.
“Earning recognition as a top producer of Fulbright students is something we are deeply proud of, and it points to the emphasis UGA places on providing an array of experiential learning opportunities for our students, guiding them to make a difference locally and abroad,” said Maria de Rocher, campus Fulbright U.S. Student Program adviser and assistant dean and director of programming for the Morehead Honors College. “Our students are well-prepared to take on these international roles because of the far-reaching efforts of UGA faculty, staff, administrators and our partners on and off campus.”
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers research, study and teaching opportunities in more than 160 countries to recent college graduates and graduate students. As the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, it is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and countries worldwide.
Among UGA’s recipients, Shrika Madivanan is currently at the West University of Timișoara in Timișoara, Romania, as a lecturer in English and American studies. Madivanan, an Honors alumna from Atlanta, earned bachelor’s degrees in international affairs and communications in 2024.
“Connecting with my students has brought me immense joy and fulfillment, making it clearer than ever that I am truly aligned with what I am meant to do,” she said. “Teaching students from diverse backgrounds has deepened my understanding of how global education policies shape learning outcomes while also reinforcing my commitment to bridging the gap between policy and practice.”
Leah Whitmoyer is in Tunisia working on a variety of agricultural research projects, including compost production for an artichoke farmer, well water sampling for salinity and aquifer monitoring. She also attended conferences in Egypt and Spain to learn about agriculture and water issues in the broader Mediterranean region. An Honors alumna and Foundation Fellow from Tucker, Whitmoyer graduated from UGA in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in biological science. She was a 2022 Voyager Scholar.
“I am currently preparing surveys to explore farmers’ willingness to use treated wastewater and studying practices for growing peppers used in the iconic Tunisian harissa paste,” Whitmoyer said. “Beyond research, I’ve enjoyed studying the Tunisian dialect of Arabic and exploring the country’s diverse landscapes, from Saharan scenery in the south to mountains and cork forests in the north, as well as the stunning Mediterranean coastline.”
Clemencia El Antouri is currently an English teaching assistant in Taiwan. El Antouri, who is from Covington, graduated in 2024 with bachelor’s degrees in international affairs and romance languages. She was a 2024 Pickering Fellow.
“Every day I teach English at a small elementary school in New Taipei City,” she said. “At night I’m either attending Mandarin classes or trying new hobbies like dance classes or going to the archery range. Living in Taiwan has given me a new sense of direction and introduced me to a community that I never could have accessed in the States.”
The Morehead Honors College offers assistance to all UGA students and recent graduates interested in participating in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
The 11 UGA students and alumni who received Fulbright offers for 2024-2025 as English teaching assistants are listed below by name, major and country.
- Defne Bozbey; psychology, German; Germany
- Mary Breen; history, mathematics; Indonesia
- Lillian Dammann; international affairs, Spanish; Bulgaria
- Clemencia El Antouri; international affairs, romance languages; Taiwan
- Lyla Gahl; economics; Kazakhstan
- Meghan Hawley; English, Spanish; Spain
- Shrika Madivanan; international affairs, communications; Romania
- Ava Wong; Double Dawg with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education; Spain
- Claire Armstrong; sociology; Taiwan
- MaryQuinn Mills; Asian languages & literature, international affairs; Taiwan
- Taylor Potter; earning a master’s degree in narrative media writing; Poland
Six UGA students and alumni received Fulbright offers for 2024-2025 for research or study. They are listed below by name, major and country.
- Natasha Dorr-Kapczynski; Asian languages & literature, Romance languages; Taiwan
- Gabrielle Langhorn; earning a doctorate in anthropology and integrative conservation; Brazil
- Nicole Rowley; earning a doctorate in anthropology; Madagascar
- Chelsea Thorpe; UGA alumna now earning a doctorate in politics and international studies at the University of Cambridge; Colombia
- Leah Whitmoyer; biological science; Tunisia
- Colin Peterson; earning a doctorate in ecology; Madagascar
Since its inception in 1946, more than 400,000 participants from all backgrounds and fields from the U.S. and over 160 other countries have participated in the Fulbright Program. More information about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is available at https://us.fulbrightonline.org/.
For more information about UGA’s work in helping students apply for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, contact Maria de Rocher at [email protected].
Written by: Stephanie Schupska
