Vanderbilt was recognized as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in February for the 2024-25 academic year after 19 Vanderbilt students received Fulbright awards to travel to 10 different countries across the world. The university also received this distinction in 2017, 2019 and 2023.
Founded in 1946, the Fulbright Scholarship Program is a global cultural exchange program that allows students, academics, artists and professionals to study, conduct research, teach English or pursue other projects abroad. The program awards about 9,000 scholarships annually and partners with over 160 countries to promote mutual understanding and the exchange of knowledge.
Kathir Venkat (B.A. ‘24) is currently working as an English teaching assistant near Guadalajara, Mexico, using his Fulbright scholarship. He said he chose to teach English because of his interest in education and the impact he can have as a teacher.
“It’s been an incredible experience and I’ve learned so much about Mexican culture,” Venkat said. “I’ve been able to go to events like Dia De Los Muertos, and I’ve traveled quite a bit around the country.”
Carlos Caballero (B.A. ‘24) is teaching English at a high school in Spain. He shared a similar desire to travel abroad that drove him to apply for a Fulbright scholarship.
“I knew I wanted to do Fulbright because I wanted to be abroad one more time,” Caballero said. “I grew up in Venezuela and then studied abroad in Brazil and Mexico. I’m very familiar with Latin America, so I wanted to go explore another continent.”
Caballero emphasized Vanderbilt’s support in helping him obtain the scholarship.
“Vandy has internal Fulbright deadlines that help students stay on track, offers mock interviews and has a full team ready to meet with you at any time to answer your questions,” Caballero said. “I am very grateful for all the support I received as an undergrad.”
Hayden Paige (B.A. ‘24) is conducting research on glucagon and diabetes at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. She said she was drawn to Denmark because of its research opportunities and culture.
“The skills and knowledge gained here are vital for my aspiration to become a medical professional who contributes to the understanding and treatment of metabolic diseases,” Paige said. “I also believe that the Danish approach to work-life balance, emphasis on social equality and a robust public health system provide a holistic setting for conducting meaningful medical research.”
Paige said the cross-cultural exchanges fostered by the Fulbright Scholarship helped her form relationships with individuals from across the program.
“I built lasting professional and personal connections with participants from diverse fields who share a commitment to international collaboration to advance global peace and health,” Paige said. “This cross-cultural exchange has empowered me to further integrate diverse perspectives into my work and contribute more effectively to addressing global challenges.”
