Note: The story was updated Sept. 18, 2023 to reflect the addition of Colleen Rhein as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Award recipient.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Fulbright Program has selected 14 University of Alabama students for various awards for the 2023-2024 academic year.
“UA’s 2023-24 Fulbright winners will venture out and have adventures in seven different countries on multiple continents,” said Dr. Teresa Wise, associate provost of international education and global outreach. “As they research, work, teach, learn and play across countries, cultures, perspectives and languages, we wish them the very best. We know that they will build on their UA experiences to help advance the Fulbright mission of promoting mutual understanding among all peoples of the world and that they will grow both personally and professionally. Congratulations to all our winners and alternates.”
Fulbright is the most prestigious United States international exchange program, offering opportunities for students, scholars and professionals. The Fulbright Award of the U.S. Department of State offers one-year grants for independent study and research, and for English teaching assistantships overseas. The highly competitive program selects approximately 1,500 award recipients from more than 11,000 applicants each year.
UA was recognized as a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Student Awards for the sixth time in eight years in February.
Fulbright Student Research Award recipient:
Caleb Ranum, of Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, received a Fulbright award to research “People and Plants of the Early Iron Age in the Middle Danube Region” at Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia. He is a second-year doctoral student in the department of anthropology, focusing on archaeology. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University and master’s degree from UA.
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Awards offer U.S. students the opportunity to serve in an English classroom overseas, assisting the teacher and exchanging culture with the people of the host country.
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Award recipients:
Jacob Camden, of Lafayette, Louisiana, will serve as an English teaching assistant in Germany. He is a major in philosophy, English and Spanish, with minors in German and world literature and liberal arts through the Blount Scholars Program. He is a resident of UA’s German House and 2023 recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.
Katherine Dansereau, of Knoxville, Tennessee, is a 2023 Honors College summa cum laude graduate in public health education and promotion with a minor in the Blount Scholars Program, as well as a master’s in health education promotion. They are a member of Mortar Board, the Carl A. Elliott Society and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society and was selected to teach English in Cambodia.
Rose Doskey, of Marrero, Louisiana, is a 2023 Honors College graduate and member of Eta Sigma Phi Classics Honor Society and Delta Phi Alpha German Honor Society. As a member of New College, they hold a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a depth study in language, culture and society with a minor in theatre. They will teach in Germany.
Austin Gregory, of Muscle Shoals, was an alternative masters in elementary education student before deciding to pursue law. He has been accepted and plans to attend the UA School of Law in fall 2024. Gregory was a 2021 summa cum laude graduate from the University of North Alabama where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in communication studies. He will teach in Taiwan.
Emma Kenny, of Montgomery, graduated summa cum laude with her bachelor’s degree in political science and history with a legal history concentration in May. She is a member of the Blackburn Institute, Andrew Goodman Foundation’s UA Vote Everywhere, Anderson Society and The XXXI. She will teach in Kosovo.
Madelyn Kloske, of Huntsville, earned her master’s degree in applied linguistics/teaching English as a second language in 2023 and is a former student-athlete on the women’s rowing team. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. She was selected to teach English in Spain.
Vanessa Lent, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is a graduate student in Spanish literature and graduate teaching assistant in the 100-200 level of Spanish. A 2022 summa cum laude UA Honors College graduate, she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology with minors in Spanish and Blount Scholars liberal arts. She will serve as the graduate teaching assistant for UA’s study abroad program in Colombia this summer. She will teach English in Costa Rica beginning in January 2024.
John “Jack” Lombardo, of Niskayuna, New York, is a secondary education and German major, and member of Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Society. He plans to pursue a career in education. He was selected to teach English in Germany.
Austin Lynch, of Carmel, Indiana, is a 2023 graduate in German and mechanical engineering. He hopes to begin a career in the energy industry from his Fulbright appointment. He will teach English in Germany.
Claire Maurer, of Redmond, Washington, is a 2023 summa cum laude Honors College graduate in psychology with minors in anthropology and criminal justice. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She was selected to teach English in the Slovak Republic.
Marie Moore, of New Lenox, Illinois, is a 2023 Honors College summa cum laude graduate in secondary education and Spanish. She was a member of Mortar Board and the Carl A. Elliott Society. She was selected to teach English in Spain.
Colleen Rhein, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a 2023 Honors College graduate in history and dance with minors in women’s studies and the liberal arts through the Blount Scholars Program. She was a member of Iota Iota Iota Women’s Studies Honor Society. She was selected to teach English in South Korea.
Riley VanMeter, of Holland, Michigan, is a 2023 summa cum laude graduate with bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and international studies with a minor in Italian language and literature, as well as a master’s degree in romance linguistics. He is a recipient of the Spanish program’s award for outstanding teaching by a graduate student and student-athlete on the men’s swim team. He was selected to teach English in Spain.
Additionally, three students were awarded alternate status in this year’s national competition and may have the opportunity to serve abroad if more funding becomes available or if a finalist is unable to participate. They are Sydney Del Rosario (Spain), Christine Thompson (Belgium) and Lydia Fantoni (Bulgaria).
Students with an interest in applying for next year’s Fulbright program can learn more at international.ua.edu and us.fulbrightonline.org, or email fulbright@ua.edu.
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.
Contact
Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, bryant.welbourne@ua.edu, 205-348-8325