Record 23 UNC-Chapel Hill Students Awarded Fulbrights for Global Research and Teaching
September 4, 2019
UNC Global Affairs
Twenty three students and recent graduates from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have been selected to receive the Fulbright U.S. Student Program award for the 2019-2020 academic year, the highest number of recipients from UNC-Chapel Hill in one year.
The UNC-Chapel Hill recipients are among more than 2,100 U.S. citizens who will study, conduct research or teach abroad for the 2019-2020 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Recipients 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.
This flagship international educational exchange program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Fulbright is administered nationally by the Institute of International Education and through the Center for Global Initiatives at UNC-Chapel Hill. The 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 immensely rewarding to work with such a diverse and talented pool of students who have exhibited a great deal of humility, curiosity and a commitment to public service,” said Iyman Ahmed, Fulbright program adviser at the Center for Global Initiatives.
Award recipients address critical global challenges in all disciplines while building relationships, knowledge and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States.
This year’s Fulbright recipients represent a diverse array of fields at Carolina, including archeology, chemistry, environmental studies and public administration.
The 2019-2020 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant winners who applied through UNC-Chapel Hill appear below in alphabetical order.
UNC-Chapel Hill Fulbright Awardees, 2019-2020
Alessandra Akers, a 2017 graduate, is teaching English in Mexico. Akers earned a bachelor’s degree in global studies, Romance languages and social and economic justice.
Maudrie Alexis, a 2019 graduate, was awarded and English Teaching Assistantship in Brazil. Alexis earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in information science.
Jessica Chen, a 2019 graduate, is teaching English in South Korea. Chen earned a bachelor’s degree in public policy and peace, war, and defense.
Annabel Chung, a 2019 graduate, is teaching English in South Korea. Chung earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and English and comparative literature.
Erin Danford, a 2019 graduate, has been awarded a grant to conduct a research project assessing public and private initiatives to recycle plastic waste in Freiburg, Germany. Danford earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science.
Deshawn Dazevedo, a 2019 graduate, is teaching English in Mexico. Dazevedo earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Elizabeth Doyle, a 2019 graduate, is teaching English in Brazil. Doyle earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and public policy.
Abigail Gancz, a 2019 graduate, has been awarded the UK-Partnership Award in the field of archaeology at Durham University. Gancz earned a bachelor’s degree in public health (biostatistics) and anthropology.
Michael Hawkins, a doctoral student in the Department of Geography, is conducting research in the Philippines for his thesis, “Producing Manila’s Waterfront: Colonial production of space and Contemporary port spaces.”
Sarah Hilker, a doctoral student in the Department of Classics (classical archaeology), is conducting research in Greece for her thesis, “From Houses to Communities: A Consideration of Mycenaean Social Structure.”
Kevin Hoeper, a current doctoral student in the Department of History, is conducting research in Czech Republic for his thesis, “Contested Comradeship: First World War Veterans in the Czech-German Borderland, 1918-1938.”
Sarah Jennings, a 2019 graduate, is teaching English in Brazil. Jennings earned a master’s degree in political science through the TransAtlantica masters program.
Wad Khalafalla, a 2018 graduate, is teaching English in Malaysia. Khalafalla earned a master’s degree in public administration (non-profit management).
Emily Koester, a 2019 graduate, is teaching English in Germany. Koester earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies.
Zachary Lee, a 2019 graduate, is teaching English in Germany. Lee earned a bachelor’s degree in German literature and culture, and sociology.
Kendall Medford, a 2017 graduate, is teaching English in Brazil. Medford earned a bachelor’s degree in Hispanic linguistics and political science.
Caroline Porter, a 2019 graduate, is teaching English in South Korea. Porter earned a bachelor’s degree in English, Korean language, and creative writing.
David Sowers, a 2019 graduate, is teaching English in Spain. Sowers earned a bachelor’s degree in history and romance languages and a master’s degree in teaching (secondary social studies).
Meghana Srikrishna, a 2019 graduate, is teaching English in Malaysia. Srikrishna earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and global studies.
Melissa Stockton, a doctoral student in the Gillings School of Global Public Health, is conducting a research project in Malawi assessing the validity of depression screening tool among patients initiating HIV care.
Eric Takoushian, a 2019 graduate, is conducting research in Dominican Republic to observe adherence and sustainability in novel iron deficiency treatment. Takoushian earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and neuroscience.
Maya Weinberg, a 2019 graduate, was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Mexico. Weinberg earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and Latin American studies.
Laura Wenzel, a 2019 graduate, is teaching English in Taiwan. Wenzel earned a bachelor’s degree in Asian studies (Chinese concentration) and a master’s degree in elementary education.
Center for Global Initiatives contact: Katie Costanza, research, communication and program manager, +1.919.843.7546, katierc@unc.edu