Four FSU students win Fulbright awards to teach, research and connect across cultures

Kelsey Klopfenstein

Fri, Sep 11, 2026

Four Florida State University students have been selected for the 2026-2027 Fulbright U.S. Student Program. These accomplished students will travel to New Zealand, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom to teach, study and engage in cultural exchange as part of the U.S. Department of State’s flagship international educational exchange program.

“The Fulbright Program strengthens connections between Florida State University and the wider world,” said Keith McCall, assistant director of the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards. “Through research, teaching and cultural exchange, FSU’s Fulbright recipients advance knowledge, address global challenges and foster mutual understanding. We are always eager to support students as they pursue opportunities to learn, collaborate and make an impact across borders.”

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s premier international exchange initiative, fostering mutual understanding between U.S. citizens and people around the world. Funded primarily through an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress to the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the program also benefits from support provided by partner governments, host institutions and private organizations across the globe.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipients are selected each year for their academic or professional excellence and leadership potential. With opportunities in more than 160 countries, the program empowers students and recent graduates to teach, study or conduct research while serving as cultural ambassadors for the United States.

The 2026-2027 Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipients from FSU are Josephine Whelan, Imani Sameen, Laurel Field and Harrison Betz.

“Whether in the field or in the classroom, the FSU community continues to shine abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program,” said Bonnie Garcia-Gloeckner, associate director of the Office of National Fellowships. “This coming year will be impactful for Josephine, Imani, Laurel and Harrison, as well as the communities in which they will be working. We look forward to hearing about their experiences.”

Josephine Whelan, a recent alumna who earned her bachelor’s degree in Biological Science in Spring 2026, will pursue a master’s degree in Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology at the University of Exeter in Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom, through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

An aspiring animal behaviorist, Whelan discovered her interest in animal behavior and ornithology at FSU through a class taught by Emily DuVal, a professor in the Department of Biological Science, and later joined the DuVal Lab. Through the lab, she conducted international research in Panama and Argentina through the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. Whelan chose the University of Exeter after learning about its research community through a paper recommended by DuVal.

“My experiences in the FSU Biology Department have shown me what is possible,” Whelan said. “I have had the opportunity to learn from professors who conduct groundbreaking research while remaining deeply committed to mentoring and supporting their students. Seeing the impact that people like Dr. DuVal have on those around them gives me hope that, if I can make even half the impact she has made on her students, I will be able to build a fulfilling and meaningful career.”

Imani Sameen, a recent FSU alumna who earned dual bachelor’s degrees in information technology and English in Summer 2026, will teach English in the Tak Province in Thailand through the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program.

She will spend the first month of her time abroad in Bangkok for orientation before heading to Tak Pittayakom School in Rahaeng, where she will assist with classroom teaching, lesson planning and student engagement. The experience will be Sameen’s first time outside the United States and will help prepare her for a career in law by developing her cross-cultural and interpersonal skills.

“Traveling and experiencing other cultures have always been something I’ve wanted to do, and Fulbright provided me with an opportunity to do that while also promoting learning and growth among students abroad,” Sameen said.

Harrison Betz, a two-time FSU alumnus who earned a master’s degree in Spanish in Summer 2026 after earning dual bachelor’s degrees in international affairs and Spanish from FSU in 2024, will teach English in Spain through the Fulbright ETA Program.

Betz will reside in Galicia and teach at CPI Cernadas de Castro. He previously studied abroad in Spain through International Programs at the FSU Valencia Study Center as an undergraduate student and returned the following year as a program assistant before starting his master’s program. Betz first learned about Fulbright while completing his Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate through the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.

“As I finished up my master’s, I knew I wanted to find a way to continue gaining experience as a language educator,” Betz said. “When I got the news about my Fulbright grant, I knew it would give me the financial and, more importantly, institutional support that would set me up for success in an unfamiliar environment.”

Laurel Field, a doctoral student pursuing a Ph.D. in Biological Science, will conduct research at the University of Auckland in New Zealand through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

Based in the coastal community of Leigh and affiliated with the university’s Institute of Marine Studies, Field will study the potential for offshore aquaculture of green-lipped mussels and king salmon. She will identify areas suitable for offshore farming and interview seafood farmers throughout New Zealand to better understand the challenges of expanding the industry. Field was inspired to apply by previous international research experiences in South Africa and the Caribbean, where working alongside local communities challenged her to grow as a scientist and adapt to new cultural contexts.

“As a researcher, I am motivated to work with communities to find local solutions to global challenges,” Field said. “I was inspired to apply to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the opportunity to participate in an immersive international research and cultural exchange experience that would help me further broaden my understanding of how people and industries are adapting to climate change on the other side of the world.”

Students interested in applying for the Fulbright Program are encouraged to connect with FSU’s Office of National Fellowships or the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards. Workshops, advising and peer mentorship are available year-round.

If you are an undergraduate student or recent graduate interested in applying for a Fulbright, contact Bonnie Garcia-Gloeckner, associate director of the Office of National Fellowships, at bjgarcia@fsu.edu . If you are a graduate student interested in applying for a Fulbright, contact Keith McCall, acting director of the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards, at kmccall2@fsu.edu .

To learn more about FSU’s global footprint, visit global.fsu.edu.

College of Arts and Sciences