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23 UNC-Chapel Hill Students Awarded Fulbrights for Global Research and Teaching

May 11, 2023
UNC Global Affairs
the old well framed by tree branches with bright green leaves

Photo by Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill



Twenty-three students and recent graduates from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have been selected as finalists for the 2023-2024 Fulbright U.S. Student Program award. The number of awardees meets the 2019 record for most recipients in UNC-Chapel Hill history.

The UNC-Chapel Hill recipients are among more than 2,100 U.S. citizens who will study, conduct research or teach abroad for the academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Finalists are selected by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as their record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields.

During the award period, participants will address critical global challenges in a variety of disciplines while building relationships, knowledge and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States. This year’s Carolina Fulbright recipients represent graduating seniors, master’s students, and doctoral candidates in numerous disciplinary fields, including anthropology, history, political science and global languages.

“Carolina’s strong performance in the Fulbright U.S. student program is a clear sign we are achieving our mission of preparing students to become the next generation of global leaders,” said Barbara Stephenson, vice provost for global affairs. “When so many Carolina students and alumni are selected into this competitive program, it underscores what a first-rate education is on offer at this leading global public research university.”

This flagship international educational exchange program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and international communities, operating in more than 160 countries. It is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered nationally by the Institute of International Education. At UNC-Chapel Hill, the Fulbright U.S. student program is administered through the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs.

Interested students and recent graduates can learn more about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the UNC-Chapel Hill campus process. The application period is now open, and the campus deadline for the next cycle is September 20, 2023.

UNC-CHAPEL HILL FULBRIGHT Finalists, 2023-2024

Cassandra Alvarino, a student in the TransAtlantic Masters Program, was awarded a grant to conduct research in Sweden for her project, “Sweden’s Bid to NATO: A Product of Current Events or a Long Time Coming?”

Olivia Andrews ’23 was awarded a grant to conduct research in Norway for her project, “What facilitates participation in sport for adolescents with intellectual disabilities?” Andrews earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and business administration.

Mohamed (Anwar) Boutayba ’23 was awarded a grant to study at Sciences Po in the Master in Marketing: New Luxury & Art de Vivre program in France. Boutayba earned a bachelor’s degree in media and journalism and global studies.

Georgia Broitman ’23 was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Mexico. Broitman earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and family sciences.

Melissa Camp, a doctoral student in the music department, was awarded a grant to conduct research in Egypt for her project, “Sounding the Nahda: Music Modernity in the Postimperial Ottoman Empire.”

Ritam Chakraborty ’18 was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Taiwan. Chakraborty earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies.

Julia Clark ’23 was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Portugal. Clark earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and African and African American diaspora studies.

Danielle Dalton, a graduate student in the global studies department, was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in India. 

Rosemary Gay, a doctoral student in the anthropology department, was awarded a grant to conduct research in Brazil for her project, “Peanut powerhouses: The promises and pitfalls of inter-American scientific collaboration.”

Nicole Harry, a doctoral student in the history department, was awarded a grant to conduct research in Lithuania for her project, “A Church Under Communism: Catholic Community and State Legitimacy in Soviet Lithuania.”

Max Hazerjian ’22 was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Tajikistan. Hazerjian earned a bachelor’s degree in peace, war, and defense and political science.

Annika Hugosson, a doctoral student in the anthropology department, was awarded a grant to conduct research in Poland for her project, “Multispecies migration and adoption as a sociopolitical case study of Poland.”

Alma Huselja, a doctoral student in the history department, was awarded a grant to conduct research in Croatia for her project, “Building a Fascist State: “Aryanization” in the Independent State of Croatia.”

Tara Jordan, a doctoral student in the music department, was awarded a grant to conduct research in Israel for her project, “’Mi Monastir’: Remembrance and Reconstruction of Interwar Monastir’s Jewish Musical Life.”

Sophie Marcom ’23 was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Colombia. Marcom earned a bachelor’s degree in medical anthropology and Hispanic literatures and cultures.

Amalia Marmolejos ’23 was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Spain. Marmolejos earned a bachelor’s degree in global studies and political science.

Tess McGrinder ’23 was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Spain. McGrinder earned a bachelor’s degree in English and comparative literature.

Adrienne Moore ’22, a current student in the Master of Arts in Teaching program, was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Colombia. Moore earned a bachelor’s degree in Hispanic literatures and culture.

Chelsea Ramsey ’23 was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Peru. Ramsey earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Latin American studies.

Olivia Romine ’23 was awarded a grant to participate in the Binational Business Program in Mexico as part of the Fulbright-García Robles grant. Romine earned a bachelor’s degree in global studies and Hispanic linguistics.

William Svec ’23 was awarded a grant to study at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest. Svec earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and music.

Luke Witchey ’22 was awarded a grant to conduct research in Germany for his project, “Literary Works of Elise Bürger.” Witchey earned a bachelor’s degree in German and political science.

Note: This news article was updated on 8/25/2023. The story originally announced 21 winners, but finalists were added after the initial publication.


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