Nine recent graduates earned Fulbright scholarships this academic year, carrying on Fordham’s longstanding traditions of cross-cultural exchange and service to others.
The Fulbright US Student Program is a highly prestigious scholarship granted by the U.S. Department of State that supports research, study, and teaching opportunities in over 140 countries. Fordham’s Fulbright awardees will be dispatched to places ranging from South Korea, to Kyrgyzstan, to Rwanda, where they’ll be working on art and research projects, teaching English, and immersing themselves in the cultures of their host countries.
“I’m thrilled to see so many Fordham students and alumni pursue these transformative opportunities,” said Lorna Ronald, Ph.D., director of Fordham’s Office of Fellowship Advising. “These nine new Fulbrighters are living the Jesuit value of being people ‘for and with others’ as they travel across the globe to form connections across differences.”
A Community-Wide Effort
This year, Fordham supported a record-breaking number applicants through the Fulbright application process. Twenty-three reached semifinalist status, and 13 were ultimately recognized: nine as awardees and four as alternates.
According to Ronald, this year’s success was a University-wide effort. More than 140 faculty and administrators supported students’ applications and personally encouraged them to apply. Ronald’s office is already guiding 32 applicants from five Fordham schools through the process for the 2026–2027 academic year. Students and recent graduates interested in applying to the Fulbright program can reach out to the Office of Fellowship Advising.
Capturing the Culture of Kyrgyzstan
Milo Powell, FCLC ‘25, is headed to Kyrgyzstan this September on an English Teaching Assistant Award. A ballet dancer and photographer, Powell’s journey to Fulbright began in high school when he took part in a State Department-sponsored program that combined Russian language study with ballet. He continued studying Russian during his time at Fordham and developed a passion for the languages and culture of Russia and Central Asia.
When he’s not teaching, Powell hopes to spend time hiking the country’s mountainous terrain and documenting his experience through photography. “I’ll always carry my camera with me to capture people’s stories and share my own,” he said.
Exploring Weimar-Era Cinema in Berlin
Katherine Heaton, FCLC ’23, is heading to Berlin this fall, where she’ll be creating miniature set designs that explore early German cinema.
“I’ve always wanted to dive deeper into the origins of set design for film, particularly the expressionist movement during the Weimar era in Germany,” said Heaton, a theater and visual arts graduate who now works as a production designer and artist. She plans to examine “how we approached film design when we had no conception of how it’s ‘supposed to be done’ and what we can learn from it” through her project.
Teaching English in Taiwan
Jacqueline Adigwu, FCRH ’25, will be teaching English in Hualien on Taiwan’s Pacific coast. “I knew I wanted to be in a more rural region that would allow me to experience working closely with communities and schools,” said Adigwu, who graduated in the spring with a degree in general science.
At Fordham, Adigwu was heavily involved with the Sports Medicine department, working with the Fordham Football team. Her long-term plan is to go to medical school through the military Health Professions Scholarship Program, then serve as a commissioned Navy medical officer. For now, she’s looking forward to practicing her Mandarin and perhaps finding a local youth sports group to coach in Taiwan.
“I’m excited to build cross-cultural connections and learn alongside my students,” said Adigwu. “I know it’ll shape me into a more thoughtful and compassionate physician in the future.”
Fordham’s 2025-2026 Fulbright Awardees
Six other graduates were selected for the Fulbright US Student Program:
- Nadia Blouin, FCRH ‘25, from New Jersey, studied history and American studies at Fordham. She earned the English Teaching Assistant Award for Hungary as part of the Roma Student Initiative.
- Chanelle Dortch, FCLC ‘23, from New York, studied international studies at Fordham. She earned an English Teaching Assistant Award for Rwanda.
- Leela Kiyawat, FCLC ‘25, is originally from California. She studied theatre and English at Fordham, and earned the India Fulbright-Nehru Research Award.
- Gemma Oshiro, FCLC ‘25, from New Jersey, studied international studies and French and francophone studies. She earned an English Teaching Assistant Award for Andorra.
- Serena Velasquez, FCRH ‘25, is from New Jersey. She studied English at Fordham and earned an English Teaching Assistant Award for South Korea.
- Lana Walker-Wilson, GABELLI ‘24, studied business administration. The Miami native is undertaking research in the United Arab Emirates.
Four other recent graduates were selected as alternates:
- Sophia Frantzeskos, FCRH ‘25, from New York, studied integrative neuroscience at Fordham. She was named an alternate for the Greece Research Award.
- Madison Gakopoulos, FCRH ‘25, is from New Hampshire. She studied sociology and music and was named an alternate for the English Teaching Assistant Award for Spain.
- Nana Karikari, GABELLI ‘24, is from Atlanta. She studied business administration and was named an alternate for the English Teaching Assistant Award for Belgium.
- Taylor Wedderburn, FCLC ‘25, is from Atlanta and studied international studies. She was named an alternate for the English Teaching Assistant Award for Kazakhstan.
Learn how you can advocate for the continuation of international exchange programs like Fulbright.
