CMU Celebrates 2025 Fulbright Recipients

Carnegie Mellon University’s dedication to global engagement continues with seven members of its community accepting Fulbright grants for the 2025-26 academic year. The recipients — Anna Cappella, Alice Crafford, Ava Folloni, Lily Hazam, Geoffrey McGovern, Christine Menand and Rachel Wilson — will soon embark on international journeys to teach, study or conduct research around the world.

“Fulbright is one of my favorite government programs grounded in the idea that the community of nations works best and is at peace when people spend time together, learn from each other, and exchange their ideas and perspectives,” said McGovern, a senior lecturer in the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology(opens in new window) (CMIST) and a political and social scientist at the RAND Corporation.

McGovern will be based in Adelaide, Australia, exploring issues related to democracy and emerging technologies in a distinguished chair position at Flinders University. This will be his second Fulbright experience; while in graduate school, he spent a year in Finland studying various aspects of the Finnish legal system.

McGovern warmly recalled the time his family welcomed an international student into their home during his childhood.

“It left an indelible mark on my views with regard to showing hospitality to international visitors and expanding my own global horizon,” he said.

When Hazam applied to the Fulbright Program, she was searching for opportunities abroad that combined her love for education with the chance to experience a new culture. Now equipped with a bachelor’s degree in decision science, she’s set to teach English in a K-12 classroom in South Korea.

“I’ve never been to South Korea, but my best friend has family there and she is always raving about it,” said Hazam, whose long-term plan is to earn a doctor of education degree. “Education is one of the most important things for our future. I want to learn more about educational policy and about improving access to quality education. This is my opportunity to explore, experience and step outside my comfort zone.”

Crafford graduated with a major in physics and minors in mathematical sciences and French & Francophone studies. She will use her Fulbright to pursue a master's degree at the Université Paris-Saclay and conduct research at the Institut de Physique Théorique in France.

"I’ve always wanted to explore French culture but didn’t really see how I could combine my interests in both physics and French into something that would work toward furthering my career. A Fulbright for higher education abroad seemed like the perfect opportunity, so I figured I had nothing to lose in applying," Crafford said.

Folloni is headed to Rwanda, where she’ll evaluate the long-term effects of water supply systems implemented by organizations like Engineers Without Borders. Folloni, who earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering(opens in new window) with an additional major in engineering and public policy(opens in new window), plans to join a local choir there as a way to connect with the community despite language barriers.

“The Fulbright Program is still a powerful tool for fostering international understanding and preventing conflict, just as it was originally intended,” she said.

Cappella chose Italy, where her family has its roots. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences(opens in new window) with an additional major in professional writing(opens in new window). While a summer intern at Thermo Fisher Scientific, she focused on identifying cancer-related mutations to support the development of personalized treatments.

“It sparked my interest in how personalized medicine could improve health care access, especially in Italy, where cancer is a leading cause of death and treatment often requires long-distance travel due to limited hospital resources,” she said. “As an emergency medical technician with a strong interest in medicine, I’m also hoping to volunteer or shadow in a clinical setting while in Italy, to better understand how care is delivered there.”

Wilson, who earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science(opens in new window) with a minor in Hispanic studies(opens in new window), applied for a Fulbright as a way to spend more time abroad in Spanish-speaking communities to better understand their relationship with technology. She is going to Peru, where she will help teach both English and computer programming part-time in high schools.

“The project is still a bit vague because it is very important to me that I tailor my teachings and offerings to the people in the community and their technological needs and interests,” she said. “I know that as a CMU graduate, wherever I am, I will have valuable tech skills to offer.”

Menand, director of Study Abroad in the Office of International Education(opens in new window), applied for the Fulbright International Education Administrators Award largely due to the professional and networking opportunities it offered. Starting in Berlin, she’ll travel to multiple locations over a two-week span, working to build new collaborations and strengthen existing ones.

“We often get questions from students and departments about opportunities abroad, and without firsthand knowledge, it can be hard to provide meaningful guidance. So, having the chance to be on the ground and collaborate with international colleagues really inspired me,” she said. “Germany has a strong technical and innovative academic environment, which aligns well with CMU’s strengths.”

As the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange initiative, the Fulbright Program provides unmatched opportunities for students and professionals to foster cross-cultural collaboration and understanding. The selection of these latest Fulbright U.S. Students and Fulbright Scholars underscores the university’s reputation for academic excellence and its commitment to global citizenship.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs once again recognized Carnegie Mellon as a Top Fulbright-Producing Institution, a distinction awarded to colleges and universities with the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Since the program's inception, Carnegie Mellon has seen 143 Tartans become Fulbright U.S. Student grantees.

The university’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholar Development(opens in new window) (OURSD) plays a pivotal role in preparing applicants, offering both broad outreach and personalized guidance. Collaborations with the Department of Languages, Cultures and Applied Linguistics(opens in new window) and the Office of International Education(opens in new window) have helped expand access to global opportunities for students across disciplines.

“We are incredibly proud that these new Fulbright Students and Scholars are representing CMU on nearly every continent in the upcoming year,” said Richelle Bernazzoli, director of OURSD. “They showcase the wide breadth of expertise the CMU community has to offer, and will contribute to positive U.S. relations with their host countries.”