DU Achieves Historic High in Fulbright Student Honors
This year鈥檚 recipients are bound for locations that span nearly 18,000 miles, from Denmark and Romania to Taiwan and Ecuador.
When Sidney Barbier鈥檚 phone buzzed and the word 鈥淔ulbright鈥 appeared on her locked screen during string quartet rehearsal, staying focused became nearly impossible. When she finally tapped the screen and read 鈥渃ongratulations,鈥 she knew months of hard work and waiting had paid off.
鈥淢y heart jumped a little bit. I couldn't believe it. I was going to France to fulfill a dream I always had,鈥 says Barbier, who graduated from DU in 2025 and will pursue a master鈥檚 degree in Earth, planetary, and environmental science in Grenoble.
Barbier is one of eight students and recent graduates DU is sending abroad this academic year to conduct research, teach English, or pursue a graduate degree as part of the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 prestigious . This marks the most Fulbright student awards DU has received in a single cycle since the program was established in 1946鈥攁nd is nearly four times the yearly average.
鈥淔ulbright is about a commitment to a global advancement of knowledge, civic engagement, and developing compassionate leaders through educational exchange,鈥 says Barbier, who will focus her studies on the relationship between hydrology and climate change. 鈥淭his is something the world needs a lot more of, and I am happy to be a part of it.鈥
Since the program鈥檚 founding, 88 DU students have received Fulbright Student grants, joining a select group of 400,000 U.S. awardees and representatives. Awardees have gone on to become Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, MacArthur Fellows, heads of state or government, and other influential scholars and leaders across public and private sectors. The program currently supports programs in 140 countries.听
The year ahead听
Awardees describe the honor as a dream fulfilled and an opportunity for cross-cultural exchange. Their focus areas are as diverse as the host locations where they鈥檒l spend the next nine to 12 months. Four of DU鈥檚 awardees will be teaching English; the other half will be conducting cutting-edge research while earning advanced degrees.
Some awardees will travel to familiar places. Emmy Radin will build on her study abroad experience by returning to Ecuador as an English teaching assistant. Raluca Alexandrescu grew up in Romania, and now she will go to Bucharest to find barriers small business owners encounter to digital transformation like AI. .听
鈥淚 see myself as a bridge between [the United States and Romania],鈥
Alexandrescu says. 鈥淚 wanted to give back by contributing to the Romanians鈥 development.鈥澨
Ella Mathews鈥 project takes her into the wild. She is traveling to Denmark to observe semi-feral large mammals like horses, cows, and water buffalo that could provide a clue to resilient ecosystems in a changing climate, a practice called 鈥渢rophic rewilding.鈥澨
鈥淚 am extremely excited to be working with large animals [and] doing hands-on work that will inform meaningful land management and protection strategies,鈥 says Mathews. 鈥淚 am also excited to be immersed in a community that respects the inherent value of the natural world and is committed to a sustainable lifestyle,鈥 she says.
Fulbright opens doors to cross-cultural interactions and the experience of living within an entirely new culture, which is a major draw for applicants itching to experience life outside of the U.S.听
Mya Vander Pol will be earning a master鈥檚 degree in conservation and restoration of cultural heritage in the Netherlands. Her goal is to step out of her comfort zone and meet as many new people as possible, she says. Plus, there鈥檚 endless new places, food, and memories to experience.听
鈥淎msterdam [is] a hub of arts and culture,鈥 says Vander Pol, 鈥淭here are so many amazing museums and galleries to explore鈥擨 hardly know where to start!鈥澨
For Grecia Castel, teaching English in Tawain offers invaluable first-hand insight into U.S.鈥揅hina relations, complementing her studies in international affairs and global economics at DU. 鈥淎s a Mexican American, I鈥檓 especially eager to observe how multiculturalism takes shape in Taiwan, especially within the educational sphere,鈥 Castel says.听听
A life-changing application听
Fulbright U.S. Students navigate a rigorous application process, facing multiple rounds of review both in the U.S. and in their host country.
Thankfully, DU staff Lindsay Lawton and Savannah Pine in the support students every step of the way. By identifying program options and supporting applicants with their materials and revision, they make a daunting process more manageable.
鈥淚 would never have thought getting a Fulbright was even a possibility for me,鈥 says Barbier, 鈥渂ut Lindsay helped to push me towards shaping an application that accurately reflected my own strengths and what I had to offer.鈥澨
Awardees say this year鈥檚 waiting period was especially challenging because of unpredictable federal funding. Yet despite the uncertainty and hard work, the process left them grateful for the opportunity.
鈥淚 was in such complete shock at first鈥擨 had to re-read the email a few times to make sure I actually got the award,鈥 says Vander Pol. 鈥淎fter that, I was overjoyed. Receiving a Fulbright means the commission believes in me and the importance of my project, which I find incredibly meaningful."
Campus applications for the 2026-2027 Fulbright awards are due to the Office of Scholar Development and Fellowship Advising by Sept. 2. For assistance, . Students can apply to teach English, get an advanced degree, do research, or even complete a creative project.听
鈥淭here are so many different versions of Fulbright that I think it really sparks the student's imagination, and it's open to any discipline,鈥 says Lawton. 鈥淲e are excited to see such a range of interests among grantees this year.鈥澨
Awardees say the best piece of advice for future applicants is to be confident and proud of who you are.听
鈥淔ulbright looks for authentic voices,鈥 says Alexandrescu. 鈥淪tay true to your story.鈥澨
U.S. Fulbright Student Program awardees听
- Sidney Barbier (Universit茅 Grenoble Alpes Grant)
- Henry Davis (English Teaching Assistantship to Laos)
- Grecia Castel (English Teaching Assistantship to Taiwan)
- Emmy Radin (English Teaching Assistantship to Ecuador)
- Ella Mathews (Study/Research Award to Denmark)
- Raluca Alexandrescu (Study/Research Award to Romania)
- Mya Vander Pol (Study/Research Award to the Netherlands)
- Rylie Mundell (English Teaching Assistantship to Poland)
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