Seventeen Villanovans Win Prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Grants for 2020-21

VILLANOVA, Pa. – The U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has announced the Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for 2020-21, with 17 Villanova University students and alumni winning the prestigious awards. In addition to the 17 award recipients, 8 other Villanovans were selected as alternates and 21 earned recognition as semi-finalists. Villanova has been listed among the nation’s top producers of Fulbright Students for more than a decade, and the University has had at least one student selected for the coveted award each year since 1994.

“The Fulbright Student Program gives Villanova students and alumni the opportunity to bring our Augustinian Catholic values to life by using the knowledge, experiences and skills gained at the University to ignite change around the world,” said University Provost Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD. “Through study, research, teaching and engagement with communities across the globe, these remarkable individuals use their talents to make a positive impact on society. Congratulations to each of the Villanova students and alumni recognized by this prestigious program and to the dedicated faculty and staff who support our talented students throughout this process.”

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, offering students grants to conduct research, study and teach abroad. Top-producing institutions are highlighted annually in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Fulbright recipients meet, work with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences. The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction in the classroom, field, home, and in daily tasks. These experiences allow the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. Visit the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website to learn more.

The Fulbright competition at Villanova is open to all current undergraduate, graduate, professional students and alumni, and is administered by the University’s Center for Research and Fellowships (CRF). Students and alumni create an application for the fellowship program under the direction of the CRF team—which provides both one-on-one consultations and group support throughout the application process, including conceptualization of projects, writing and revising proposals, and interview preparation and practice.

“These amazing Villanovans have dedicated themselves to becoming globally-connected leaders, joining the lengthy list of alumni who are using their gifts to serve others,” said Michael T. Westrate, PhD, Director of CRF. “The Fulbright program has once again provided validation of Villanova’s exceptional students and alumni—and by extension, our world-class academic and research enterprise, including our outstanding faculty and staff mentors.”

Villanova students and alumni interested in applying for external awards, including the Fulbright, should visit the CRF website for more information.

The 17 Villanovans awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Grants are:

• Mark Brady ’20 CLAS, History, Economics, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain
• Amanda Burau ’19 CLAS-Master’s, Human Resource Development, English Teaching Assistantship in Bulgaria
• Christa Cook ’20 COE-Master’s, Sustainable Engineering, Study-Research in Brazil
• Nora Cowley ’20 CLAS, Communication, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain
• Christopher Deucher ’20 CLAS, Political Science, Economics, English Teaching Assistantship in Czech Republic
• Elizabeth Einig ’16 VSB, Marketing, English Teaching Assistantship in Poland
• Isabel Forward ’19 CLAS, English, Education, English Teaching Assistantship in Colombia
• Caraline Gammons ’20 CLAS, Biology, Royal Veterinary College Award in United Kingdom
• Jillian Haggard ’20 CLAS, Spanish Literature & Language, Psychology, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain
• Michelle Kimura ’20 CLAS, Peace and Justice, Study-Research in Kenya
• Nathalie Leonardo ’20 CLAS, Psychology, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain
• Caleigh Manyak ’20 CLAS, Global Interdisciplinary Studies: Arab and Islamic Studies, English Teaching Assistantship in Brazil
• Benjamin Moy ’20 CLAS, Environmental Science, Study-Research in Indonesia
• Christina Prinssen ’20 CLAS, Global Interdisciplinary Studies: Asian Studies, Political Science, English Teaching Assistantship in South Korea
• Clare Reckner ’20 CLAS, English, English Teaching Assistantship in Czech Republic
• Nkiambi Sokolo ’18 CLAS, Mathematics, English Teaching Assistantship in Taiwan
• Jasmine Thornton ’20 CLAS, Political Science, English Teaching Assistantship in Greece

For bios of Villanova’s 17 Fulbright winners, click here.

Villanovans recognized as Fulbright U.S. Student Alternates are:

• Kylie Brinson ’20 CLAS, Psychology, English Teaching Assistantship in Malaysia
• Caitlin Donahue ’20 CLAS, Philosophy, Political Science, Study-Research in Netherlands
• Ryan Harkin ’20 CLAS-Master's, Mathematics, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain
• Erin O'Shea ’20 COE, Civil Engineering, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain
• Christiaan Reynolds ’21 CLAS-Doctorate, Philosophy, Study-Research in Netherlands
• Julianna Ricigliano ’20 CLAS, Communication, Political Science, English Teaching Assistantship in Bulgaria
• Sarah Santorum ’20 CLAS, Psychology, English Teaching Assistantship in Ukraine
• Anna Yoo ’20 CLAS, Psychology, English Teaching Assistantship in South Korea

Villanovans recognized as Fulbright U.S. Student Semi-Finalists are:

• Jadyn Anczarski ’20 CLAS-Master's, Physics, English Teaching Assistantship in Netherlands
• Katherine Costanza ’20 CLAS, Communication, English Teaching Assistantship in Malaysia
• Kimberly Dawes ’19 CLAS, Individually Designed Major, Global Interdisciplinary Studies, Study-Research in China
• Bailee Deshler ’20 CLAS, Biochemistry, Study-Research in Philippines
• Emily Ellis ’20 CLAS, Biology, English Teaching Assistantship in Czech Republic
• Emily Gilmore ’19 VSB, Economics, Study-Research in Italy
• Blake Leonard ’20 CLAS, Global Interdisciplinary Studies: Arab and Islamic Studies, English Teaching Assistantship in Indonesia
• Cali Loblundo ’20 CLAS, Biochemistry, Study-Research in Sweden
• Sureatha Longstreet ’20 CLAS, Liberal Arts, English Teaching Assistantship in Indonesia
• Claudia Macpherson ’19 CLAS, Biochemistry, English Teaching Assistantship in Brazil
• Leanna Marciano ’20 CLAS, Economics, English Teaching Assistantship in Laos
• Katherine McMahon ’20 CLAS, Education, History, English Teaching Assistantship in Netherlands
• Gregory Morrison ’20 VSB, International Business, Economics, Study-Research in Mexico
• Felicity Petruzzi ’20 CLAS, Humanities, Psychology, English Teaching Assistantship in Czech Republic
• Michael Podgorski ’20 CLAS-Master's, Public Administration, English Teaching Assistantship in Germany
• Ammy Rodriguez-Quizi ’19 CLAS, Communication, English Teaching Assistantship in South Korea
• Arman Salem ’20 VSB, Accountancy, Finance, English Teaching Assistantship in Spain
• Paul Sarles ’20 COE, Chemical Engineering, Study-Research in Taiwan
• Brett Schratz ’20 CLAS, Political Science, Philosophy, Study-Research in United Kingdom
• John Shindelar ’20 CLAS-Master's, Political Science, English Teaching Assistantship in Czech Republic

About the Fulbright Program: Since its establishment in 1946, the program has given more than 390,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Fulbrighters address critical global challenges in all disciplines while building relationships, knowledge, and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States and the world.  Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in many fields, including 59 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 84 who have received Pulitzer Prizes and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.