ASU sees boost in number of student Fulbright Awards for 2025–26
Student Fulbright Patrick Fahey, a PhD candidate in archaeology at ASU, analyzes animal bones in South Africa during his 2023–24 fellowship. Each year, ASU holds a photo contest, inviting Fulbrighters from previous years to submit photos that highlight cultures and traditions, showcase the work that participants did in the lab or in the community, or are simply striking images. Fahey — who won the most recent photo contest — used his Fulbright to study how early humans in South Africa adapted to climate change by analyzing animal bones from the Pinnacle Point 5-6 site. Courtesy photo
By Kyle Mox
Nineteen students and recent graduates from Arizona State University have been offered awards through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the 2025–26 academic year.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange initiative.
This year’s results mark a significant milestone for ASU’s Fulbright community, as the 2025–26 cycle represents the university’s largest cohort of awardees since 2019–20. A total of 83 ASU students and alumni applied — also making this the largest applicant pool in the university’s history.
“ASU has developed a strong Fulbright culture, thanks to the dedication of our faculty and staff in mentoring students,” said Kyle Mox, associate dean for national scholarships in the Lorraine W. Frank Office of National Scholarships Advisement. “Still, we believe we’ve only scratched the surface of our potential, and we hope to see even more applicants in the coming cycle.”
Each year, more than 2,000 student Fulbright Awards are granted to support graduate study, independent research, creative projects and English teaching assistantships in over 140 countries. As one of the most visible and effective tools of U.S. public diplomacy, the Fulbright program fosters mutual understanding, builds global partnerships and promotes American values through academic and cultural exchange.
“These students exemplify the excellence and global mindset we seek to foster at ASU,” said Nancy Gonzales, executive vice president and university provost. “Through Fulbright, they will build cultural understanding and make meaningful contributions around the world — reflecting the impact of ASU’s commitment to inclusive, globally engaged education.”
“The Fulbright program encourages participants to act as citizen-diplomats and cultural ambassadors,” Mox said. “Our ASU Fulbright students reflect the university’s charter commitment to innovation, access and social impact.”
The projects in this year’s ASU cohort span a wide range of fields — from mathematics and business to global security, sustainability and digital storytelling.
“I’m proud of the broad range of backgrounds and interests in this year’s Fulbright cohort,” Mox said. “Each will serve as a powerful representative of Arizona State University and the United States abroad.”
Over the past two decades, Arizona State University has established itself as a national leader in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Recognized as a top-producing institution by the U.S. Department of State in 19 of the past 20 years, ASU consistently ranks among the top universities for Fulbright success. In the past decade alone, 158 ASU students and alumni have received Fulbright Awards — placing the university second among public institutions nationwide, behind only the University of Michigan and ahead of prestigious peers such as Berkeley, Virginia, Texas and Rutgers.
ASU has also been named a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Leader for three consecutive years, underscoring its commitment to inclusive global engagement.
Applicants participate in a monthslong advising and review process through the Lorraine W. Frank Office of National Scholarships Advisement, which provides small-group and individual mentoring, essay development support and strategic guidance to help applicants craft competitive proposals.
“It’s an enormous undertaking,” Mox said. “The application process is rigorous and deeply reflective, but it’s also one of the most transformative experiences a student can pursue. We are tremendously proud of anyone who submits an application.”
2025–26 ASU Fulbright Student Awardees
Study/Research Awards
- Albert Chu, doctoral student — Fulbright/University of Antwerp Award (Belgium).
- Maria Cornejo-Terry, bachelor’s graduate — Fulbright/Queen’s University Belfast Award in Global Security and Borders (United Kingdom).
- Cooper Emmott, bachelor’s graduate — Open Study/Research Award (Sweden).
- Neha Karanjia, bachelor’s graduate — Open Study/Research Award (South Korea).
- Joelle Khair, bachelor’s graduate — Fulbright/IE University Master’s Award (Spain).
- Landon Mattingly-Dawson, bachelor’s graduate — Fulbright/Budapest Semesters in Mathematics–Rényi Institute (Hungary).
- Rhett Price, master’s student — Binational Business Program (Mexico).
English Teaching Assistant Awards
- Arnulfo Acedo, bachelor’s graduate — North Macedonia.
- Omar Aljubouriy, bachelor’s graduate — Fulbright/America for Bulgaria Foundation ETA (Bulgaria).
- Andrew Dumenigo, bachelor’s graduate — Uzbekistan.
- Madison Hedges, bachelor’s graduate — Slovak Republic.
- Hayley Hunter, master’s student — Slovak Republic.
- Samantha Morris, bachelor’s graduate — Germany.
- Kaitlin Sanders, bachelor’s graduate — South Korea.
- Amber Sheardown, bachelor’s graduate — North Macedonia.
- Ryan Watling, master’s student — Mexico.
- Luke Watson, master’s student — Taiwan.
- Dorian Lemarchand, bachelor’s graduate — Taiwan.
- Catherine White, bachelor’s graduate — Poland.
Interested in applying?
The application process for the 2026–27 Fulbright U.S. Student Program is currently underway. ASU students and recent alumni who are interested in pursuing research, graduate study or teaching English abroad are encouraged to visit https://fulbright.asu.edu for detailed information on award options, eligibility and the campus application timeline. The preliminary deadline to apply through ASU is Sept. 9.
More Local, national and global affairs
Dialogues for Democracy kicks off spring with talk about midterm elections
Dialogues for Democracy, a nonpartisan speaker series featuring experts shaping U.S. politics, media and policymaking, is launching its spring 2026 lineup on Wednesday with a look at how the White…
ASU president frames democracy and higher education as 'unfinished work' in forward-looking address
With the stage lights up and the audience settled into their seats, Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow opened his Wednesday address at ASU Gammage not with policy prescriptions or…
ASU study finds Americans' attitudes toward car-free living are changing
Americans are famously dependent on their cars.In fact, with 92% of U.S. households owning at least one vehicle, the idea of living without them can seem unrealistic and even unimaginable.But…