The George Washington University ranked among the top research institutions for the number of students granted Fulbright awards, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education’s recently-released list of “Top Producers of Fulbright U.S. Scholars and Students, 2022-23.”
GW made the list for its 18 undergraduate and graduate students who will teach, study and conduct research abroad for the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program.
In a letter to GW President Mark S. Wrighton, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken praised the university’s accomplishments in repeatedly ranking among Fulbright top producers. “This achievement is a testament to your institution’s deep commitment to international exchange and to building lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries,” Blinken noted.
Wrighton said that the Fulbright program is a “meaningful avenue for global service and cross-cultural engagement.”
“The George Washington University is honored to be among the select institutions with a high number of Fulbright recipients,” Wrighton said. “I am proud of our many students and scholars whose service and research is enabled and enhanced by this distinguished program.”
The Fulbright program, among the largest and most diverse exchange programs in the world, is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Since its inception in 1946, it has provided more than 400,000 accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and other professionals with funding for study and research abroad. The program awards approximately 9,000 merit-based scholarships in the United States and more than 160 countries every year.
“We are incredibly impressed with our students who have been selected as Fulbright scholars, reflecting their hard work, dedication and academic excellence,” said Geneva Henry, vice provost for information technology and dean of libraries and academic innovation. “This recognition not only showcases the talent of our students, but it also demonstrates GW’s strength in preparing them to make a global impact.” Henry noted that many of the students worked with the Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research, a service of GW Libraries and Academic Innovation, to prepare their Fulbright applications.
Fulbright alumni have included 41 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 78 MacArthur Fellows and scores of global leaders and changemakers.
The 2022-23 class of GW student recipients and their teaching fellowship countries includes:
- Julia Ávila, B.A. ’22, Brazil
- Bianka Kern, B.S. ’22, Colombia
- Rachel Dyl, M.A. ’22, Ecuador
- Charlotte Hanby, B.A. ’22, Germany
- Jake Tsubota, B.A. ’22, Germany (Study/Research)
- Ryan Mackler, B.A. ’21, Jordan
- Kylie Henry, B.A. ’22, Kosovo
- Isabel Wolfer, B.A. ’19, Laos
- Sarah McGonagle, B.A. ’22, Nepal
- Claudia Krisko, M.P.H. ’22, Nepal (Study/Research)
- Erin Donnelly, B.A. ’22, Paraguay
- Alexandra Cintrón Jiménez, M.A. ’22, Poland
- Mahima Gunapooti, B.A. ’22, South Korea
- Jada Tanner, B.A. ’22, South Korea
- Fletcher Calcagno, B.A. ’22, South Korea (Study/Research)
- Clea McElwain, B.A. ’22, Taiwan
- Maywadee Viriyapah, B.A. ’21, Thailand
- Rilind Abazi, B.A. ’20, Turkey