Two COSSPP students will teach internationally after earning Fulbright scholarships

Headshots of all 2023 Fulbright recipients, 8 women and one man.
Headshots from top left: Michelle Perez, Denisha Campbell, Tessa Santner, Miguel Gonzalez, Rachel Neale, Arria Hauldin, Caitlin Mims, Rachel Blankenship, Mia Hernandez.

Two of the nine current and former Florida State University students who have earned scholarships through the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program are studying under the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy.

The nine winners include graduate and undergraduate students and represent a host of majors and areas of research. Five will pursue teaching assistantships while the remaining four will conduct research. They’ll pursue that work in: Taiwan, Bulgaria, Scotland, Brazil, Spain and its Canary Islands, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and one student will split their time between Greece and Türkiye.

Jesse Wieland, associate director of the Office of National Fellowships (ONF) at FSU, said the Fulbright application process is especially rigorous.

“This year’s Fulbright awardees spent many months and, in a few cases, years developing their research projects and preparing their application materials,” he said. “These students truly represent academic excellence and what is obtainable for FSU students at both the undergraduate and graduate degree levels.”

Wieland added that the hope from his office is that FSU’s Fulbright awardees inspire other students to dream big and embark on the application process. Bonnie Garcia-Gloeckner, assistant director at ONF, echoed Wieland.

“Undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent alumni interested in applying for the current Fulbright cycle should contact our office now,” she said. “The first campus deadline is June 7, and we would welcome the opportunity to work with students and recent alumni on their applications.”

Congratulations to all nine Fulbright scholarship recipients this year!

For more information, visit FSU’s Office of National Fellowships.


Miguel Gonzalez – Miami, Florida   

Senior  

Major: International Affairs   

Fulbright type: English Teaching Assistantship  

Destination: Brazil  

Fulbright work: “Beyond teaching English, I will create and host multi-cultural activities on my designated university’s campus, and I will also work with local LGBT organizations to promote LGBT right and public health for all.”

 

Michelle Perez – Miami, Florida  

Graduated 2023  

Major: Double major in International Affairs and Economics   

Fulbright type: English Teaching Assistantship  

Destination: Spain  

Fulbright work: Teaching English in a high school setting and helping with Global Classrooms and Model United Nations.