2020-21 Fulbright Fellows

Natalie Armstrong ’20, an environmental analysis major/geology minor, has been awarded a Fulbright to Greenland, where she will teach English. She hopes to build upon her experience of studying in the Arctic to utilize a collaborative and engaging teaching pedagogy that will include storytelling, play reading and writing to create an all-inclusive classroom. Outside the classroom, Armstrong would like to work with the Arctic Youth Network to connect students with different backgrounds. She plans to pursue a PhD in environmental studies and a JD in environmental law.

Kai Bidell ’20, an environmental analysis major, is the recipient of a Fulbright Nehru award to India to research if India’s 2% bill will help the world achieve 100% sustainability. He plans to explore why environmental sustainability seems to be de-prioritized compared with other categories for investment specified in the 2% bill. To engage with the community, Bidell plans to volunteer for the Youngistaan Foundation, working on the Bright Spark Education Program to motivate young children to stay in school. In the future, Bidell would like to work in the sustainability department of a large corporation and eventually earn an MBA.

Haley Burger ’20, a biochemistry major, has received a Fulbright Fellowship to Nepal to teach English. Burger plans to use the pedagogy of learning language through stories as it is both reciprocal and collaborative in nature. Her community engagement will consist of connecting with local community health workers to explore my interests in public health issues from the Nepali perspective. Burger’s future plans include attending graduate school in the field of environmental public health research.

Priscilla Cobian ’16, a sociology/Spanish major and Chicano studies minor, has been awarded a Fulbright to Mexico to teach English. For the past two years, Cobian worked as a residence director and diversity and inclusion coordinator at Pitzer. As an ETA instructor, she hopes to help build a community within the classroom so that students feel comfortable and lose the fear often associated with learning a new language. One activity for her community engagement would be to join a dance class of ballet folklórico or the local, regional dances. Cobian plans to attend graduate school in education and continue to work with first-generation college students.

Eliana Cowan ’20, a human biology major, is the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship to Nepal to research maternal mental health that will focus on the mental healthcare gap emerging from the transition occurring in the healthcare system and evaluate maternal mental health in Jumla, Nepal. Community engagement will integrate Cowan’s love of art, nature and medicinal plants to engage in conversations on these topics and discuss local plant knowledge. Upon returning to the US, she plans to study naturopathic medicine at Bastyr University. In addition, Cowan intends to pursue a PhD in medical anthropology.

August Kahn ’20, a religious studies major, has received a Fulbright to Germany to teach English, where he hopes to be considered for the diversity program and use English education as a way to enhance connections of refugees to Europe while avoiding systems of assimilation. In a mixed class of German-born students and refugees, he will make English learning a point of encounter not only within the classroom but as a window of exposure to ideas beyond the context of the class. Outside the classroom, Kahn will work with local activists and educators with the hope of starting an afterschool program for Muslim and Jewish secondary school students. Upon returning to the US, he will continue his involvement with Muslim-Jewish solidarity and use his experience in Germany to understand a global context for this relationship. He hopes to enroll in rabbinical school and continue working in the area of interfaith activism.

Esme Kline ’19, an organismal biology major, is a recipient of a Fulbright to do research in Panama where she will be investigating historic drivers of coral reef decline in Bocas del Toro. Kline’s research will involve three phases: physical collection of coral cores; extraction of skeletal material for geochemical analyses and development of growth chronologies and analyses of results. To complement her research and for community engagement, she plans to work with the mentorship program “Mujeres del Océano” or Women of the Ocean that aims to empower local girls to become more comfortable in the ocean and deepen their connection with the ocean through activities such as surfing, snorkeling and beach cleanups. Her future plans are to pursue a PhD in marine ecosystems and society.

Megan Schmiesing ’20, an environmental analysis major/Spanish minor, has been awarded a Fulbright to Spain to teach English where she will utilize her previous ESL experience to instill a sense of curiosity and mutual respect for cross-cultural learning in classrooms in Spain. For community engagement, she wishes to join a church choir since music is one of the best bridges between people. Thus she hopes to create deeper connections within the community and immerse herself culturally while also sharing her passion for music. Her future plans include obtaining a law degree.

Emily Sender ’20, an American studies major and Spanish minor, is the recipient of a Fulbright fellowship to teach English in Mexico. Drawing upon previous experiences in Mexico including research for her senior thesis focused on deportees and returnee migrants in Mexico, Emily hopes to continue to engage in the complex relationship between the United States and Mexico. Outside the classroom, Emily desires to work with migrant communities and to engage in meaningful relationships with students and community members.

Simone Wolynski ’20, an Africana studies and Spanish double major, has been awarded a Fulbright to Colombia to teach English where she will take part in Colombia’s commitment to schooling as an English teacher instructing future educators. Teaching in Colombia interests Wolynski, especially with the implementation of the history-making reparations program that incorporates educational assistance measures at its core. Community engagement will consist of engaging with communities who create art as an act of resistance which she has witnessed happen throughout the African diaspora. Wolynski’s future plans include pursuing a JD, focusing on environmental justice policy to better race relations, environmental health and educational access.