Pictured L to R: Ian Daugherty, Rachel Koenig and Joshua Pinckney
Fulbright Grantees To Embark on Adventures Abroad
Three Modern Languages alumni are headed to Taiwan and Spain
By Kelly Saavedra
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program has awarded grants to six Carnegie Mellon University alumni to explore their educational interests abroad, including three who pursued majors in the Department of Modern Languages.
Maegan Bogetti, Ian Daugherty, Eliza Hallinan and Francine Leung will be headed to Italy, Taiwan, Australia and the United Kingdom, respectively. Rachel Koenig and Joshua Pinckney are going to Spain.
Daugherty, Koenig, and Pinckney all have ties to the Department of Modern Languages.
Proposing to spend an entire academic year studying, teaching or conducting research abroad is a grand undertaking. The application process for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which takes up to a year to complete, involves reaching out to potential overseas affiliations, asking mentors to write recommendations, crafting compelling essays, interviewing, and incorporating feedback from expert faculty and staff.
Koenig, who earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and Hispanic studies in 2023, and Pinckney, who received a bachelor’s degree in international relations and Hispanic studies in 2021, will embark on teaching assistantships in Spain.
Pinckney said he hopes to augment the knowledge he gained working with health care clients with Spanish health care policy and practices to reimagine how Spain, the U.S. and others can collaborate to improve health outcomes in developing nations.
“I wanted a seat at the table with the next generation of young Spanish leaders to understand how they envision and actively shape the trajectory of their country,” said Pinckney, who will use the opportunity to inform his studies and work at the intersection of public policy and diplomacy.
Daugherty learned Chinese so he could better understand Chinese-speaking peoples' native culture. His teaching assistantship in Taiwan will put him one step closer to his goal of becoming a teacher sensitive to the needs of his students.
“I am grateful — and hopeful — because of the many ways my church leaders, coaches, professors, family and friends have unconditionally loved, strengthened and motivated me,” said Daugherty, who also wants to be a Christian missionary. “Mostly, I want to learn how to care for and build up individuals with infinite potential.”
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides an unparalleled opportunity to teach, study and conduct research in over 150 countries worldwide. Carnegie Mellon was named a top producer of Fulbright U.S. students for the 2022-23 academic year by the U.S. Department of States' Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The university has been a part of the Fulbright program since the inaugural class in 1949. Since then, 122 Tartans have been selected.
Richelle Bernazzoli, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholar Development, said Carnegie Mellon students make great Fulbright applicants because of their intellectual fearlessness and ability to excel in many different areas at once.
“To be competitive, applicants must convey maturity, adaptability and cultural sensitivity through their various leadership, service and intercultural endeavors,” Bernazzoli said. “These students have also demonstrated they are culturally aware and well-informed on current events in both the United States and their host country; and can be excellent cultural ambassadors during their grants.”