Duke Again Named Top Producer of Fulbright Scholars

Recognition showcases Duke’s global reach

Fifteen Duke students and alumni have been named Fulbright finalists for the 2024-2025 year. They will teach English, pursue graduate study and conduct research across 11 different countries on five continents.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognized Duke

University for being one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The recognition underscores the quality of Duke student scholarship and the university’s commitment to building global networks and supporting international learning opportunities.

Fifteen Duke students were selected for Fulbright awards for the 2024-25 academic year. These young scholars will teach English, pursue graduate study and conduct research across 11 different countries on four continents.

Named after former U.S. Senator William Fulbright, who advanced efforts to promote international cooperation through cultural immersion, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is a world-renowned international education program designed to enable cultural exchange and increase mutual understanding between the United States and more than 140 different countries across the globe. Fulbright Scholars exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges.

Applicants to Fulbright at Duke are supported by the Office of University Scholars and Fellows.

Anna Bernard-Hoverstad, assistant director of nationally competitive scholarships said “We are proud of the work our Fulbright grantees are doing around the world. They’ve jumped headfirst into research and education in international settings, and we hope that their time abroad is informative and fruitful for years to come.”

The list of Duke students and alumni receiving Fulbright Scholarships last year:

  • Makee Anderson, France: Fulbright/French Government English Teaching Assistant Award;
  • Sanjit Beriwal, Study in the U.K.: Fulbright/Royal Holloway, University of London Award;
  • Balraj Dhanoa, Italy: English Teaching Assistant Award;
  • Drew Greene, Study in Finland: Fulbright/University of Turku Graduate Award;
  • Eoin Gronningsater, Spain: English Teaching Assistant Award;
  • Rebecca Liu, Research in Germany: Open Study/Research Award — “Investigating maternal age effects on development in nematode Pristionchus pacificus;”
  • Andrew McCallum, Argentina: English Teaching Assistant Award;
  • Rose Naderi, Study in France: Study — Open Study/Research Award;
  • Erica Neighbors, Research in Mexico, Fulbright-Garcia Robles Open
    Study/Research Award — “Looking the Part: The Embodied Aesthetics of Mexican Capitalism, 1920–1994;”
  • Alfredo Sanchez, Taiwan: English Teaching Assistant Award;
  • Hira Shah, Belgium: English Teaching Assistant Award;
  • Grace Sorensen, Research in Germany: Open Study/Research Award — “Investigating the Connection between Lysosomal Biology and Neuroinflammation;”
  • Peyton Thompson, Spain: English Teaching Assistant Award;
  • Emma Williams, Germany: English Teaching Assistant Award;
  • Emily Zhao, Research in Australia: Fulbright/Postgraduate Open Study/Research Scholarship — “Integrating Flexible Smart Home Electrification for Grid Resilience.

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program. 

Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors, and the world and have included 44 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 90 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders and changemakers who build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.   For more information about the Fulbright program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org/