UNC Named Fulbright “Top Producer”

Posted on March 4, 2024

For the 14th time in the last 15 years, UNC has been recognized as a university that produces a large number of Fulbright Scholars.

The recognition, from the U.S. Department of State, follows the awarding of grants to 10 undergraduate students, nine graduate or doctoral students and four alumni from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the 2023–24 cycle.

“This designation is an honor, and it underpins our commitment to providing a rich menu of global education opportunities to everyone at Carolina,” Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Chief Global Officer Barbara Stephenson said in a statement. “I am proud that our efforts have positioned us as the second highest producer of Fulbright students among public universities in the U.S.”

Carolina students are encouraged to apply for the scholarship by faculty and staff who serve on the campus review committee, provide resources and advise students.

The Fulbright Scholar Program is an international and cultural exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government that provides students and scholars the opportunity to conduct and share their research globally. The program awards more than 1,700 fellowships each year, allowing 800 U.S. scholars to travel abroad and 900 visiting scholars to come to the United States, according to its website.

Fulbright scholars gain connections and insights through world-renowned research opportunities and are expected to return home to share their experiences with colleagues. Research collaborations in other countries and institutional partnerships often result from scholars’ experiences.

In a letter to Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts, Secretary of State Antony Blinken commended UNC’s top-producing-institution designation, saying it “clearly demonstrates your dedication to promoting global engagement and mutual understanding among the peoples and nations of the world.”

UNC’s Fulbright winners for the 2023–24 cycle and their awards are:

• Cassandra Alvarino, a student in the TransAtlantic Master Program, will conduct research in Sweden.
• Olivia Andrews ’23 will conduct research in Norway.
• Mohamed (Anwar) Boutayba ’23 will study at Sciences Po in the Master in Marketing: New Luxury & Art de Vivre program in France.
• Georgia Broitman ’23 will participate in an English Teaching Assistantship in Mexico.
• Melissa Camp, a doctoral student in the music department, will conduct research in Egypt.
• Ritam Chakraborty ’18 will participate in an English Teaching Assistantship in Taiwan.
• Julia Clark ’23 will participate in an English Teaching Assistantship in Portugal.
• Danielle Dalton, a graduate student in the global studies department, will participate in an English Teaching Assistantship in India.
• Rosemary Gay, a doctoral student in the anthropology department, will conduct research in Brazil.
• Nicole Harry, a doctoral student in the history department, will conduct research in Lithuania.
• Max Hazerjian ’22 will participate in an English Teaching Assistantship in Tajikistan.
• Annika Hugosson, a doctoral student in the anthropology department, will conduct research in Poland.
• Alma Huselja, a doctoral student in the history department, will conduct research in Croatia.
• Tara Jordan, a doctoral student in the music department, will conduct research in Israel.
• Sophie Marcom ’23 will participate in an English Teaching Assistantship in Colombia.
• Amalia Marmelejos ’23 will participate in an English Teaching Assistantship in Spain.
• Tess McGrinder ’23 will participate in an English Teaching Assistantship in Spain.
• Adrienne Moore ’22, a current student in the Master of Arts in Teaching, will participate in an English Teaching Assistantship in Colombia.
• Chelsea Ramsey ’23 will participate in an English Teaching Assistantship in Peru.
• Olivia Romine ’23 will participate in the Binational Business Program in Mexico.
• William Svec ’23 will study at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest.
• Luke Witchey ’22 will conduct research in Germany.

Media Relations officials said one Fulbright Scholarship winner requested not to be named.

— Cameron Hayes Fardy ’23