In an impressive display of academic excellence, a record nine students from UVM’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) have been offered Fulbright U.S. Student awards for the 2026-2027 academic year—eight to teach English as a second language and one to pursue independent research. The Fulbright is one of the country’s most prestigious scholarship programs, providing financial and organizational support to graduating college seniors, grad students, and young professionals who want to teach English abroad, conduct research, or pursue graduate study.
Scott Clark, Assistant Director of Fellowships for UVM’s Office of Fellowships, Opportunities, and Undergraduate Research (FOUR), sees a direct connection between the success of this year’s UVM CAS Fulbright applicants and the College’s strong support of the liberal arts. “While it’s true that the Fulbright Program looks for specialized experience and training in its applicants, they also need to know that Fulbrighters will bring advanced critical thinking skills, academic versatility, and a strong grounding in intercultural communication to their Fulbright projects overseas,” he says. “UVM CAS students possess those qualities in spades.”
Notably, six of the nine CAS Fulbright recipients have majors and/or minors in the School of World Languages and Cultures (SWLC), including linguistics, Chinese, Japanese, and German. “We’re so very proud of these extraordinary recent grads,” says Joseph Acquisto, director of the School. “Global citizenship is more important than ever, and the faculty in the SWLC are proud of the way our students defy stereotypes about Americans not knowing or caring about cultures and languages beyond the U.S.”
Four CAS U.S. Fulbrighters majored in linguistics, and an additional student with a minor in the subject, Caroline Kerr ’26, was awarded a teaching assistantship by Austria’s Fulbright Commission. “I have never seen anything like this since joining the linguistics program,” says Senior Lecturer Ben Sienicki. “It has brought an overwhelming sense of excitement and accomplishment to our community, a feeling rooted in the day-to-day commitment, diligence, and talent of our students.”
Those qualities are evident in every single one of these remarkable young people. So, without further delay, meet the nine recent CAS grads who have earned a Fulbright for the coming academic year.
Elliot Baird ’26
Majors: Linguistics and English
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Fulbright project: Working as an English teaching assistant in a post-secondary training institute in Argentina
Why he applied: “Scott Clark from the FOUR office brought the Fulbright to my attention. I was looking for something to do between college and graduate school where I could improve my Spanish skills, see another part of the world, and gain some practical professional experience. Fulbright fit the bill perfectly!”
What he’s most excited about: “I'm most excited to see and live in Argentina! Also, I was a ballroom dancer at UVM, and I really want to learn Argentine tango. Plus, I’m excited about the work I’ll be doing because it gives me a chance to use my love of language to connect directly with the community I'll be living in.”
How CAS helped prepare him: “While studying linguistics, I learned how to break down linguistic concepts in ways that are digestible for learners. I focused specifically on the social and cultural dimensions of language, which will be important in facilitating just, equitable learning environments in the classrooms I'll work in. During my semester abroad in Maastricht, Netherlands, I learned practical skills in navigating foreign institutions and daily life in another country. Even more importantly, I made a large group of friends with people from all across the world and learned how to build cross-cultural relationships that remain strong to this day.”
What he hopes to gain: “I hope to bring back practical teaching experience and improved Spanish language skills, along with a wider understanding of the world, its people, and my place in it!”
Sam Bjorklun ’24
Major: Environmental sciences
Hometown: Albany, NY
Fulbright project: Working as an English teaching assistant in Thailand
Why she applied: “I come from a Thai family but grew up in the United States, so I feel connected to both cultures. Applying for a Fulbright felt like the perfect opportunity to strengthen that connection while contributing to a community through education.”
What she’s most excited about: “I am most excited to immerse myself in a culture I grew up around but still have so much to learn about. I look forward to improving my Thai, connecting with local communities, and experiencing daily life in Thailand.”
How CAS helped prepare her: “My time at UVM helped me become more independent, adaptable, and open to new experiences. Through my studies in environmental science, research projects, and post-grad work in education, I learned how to communicate with people from different backgrounds. My family has been one of my biggest influences, encouraging me to stay connected to my Thai heritage and inspiring my desire to learn more about the culture and community that have shaped my life.”
What she hopes to gain: “Personally, I hope to return with a deeper understanding of Thailand and a stronger connection to my heritage. I am excited to learn from the people I meet, improve my Thai language skills, and gain a broader perspective on the world. Professionally, I hope to strengthen my skills in education, communication, and cross-cultural work while gaining experiences that will help me work effectively with diverse communities in the future.”
John Blochberger ’25
Majors: Chinese and plant biology
Hometown: Strasburg, PA
Fulbright project: Working as an English teaching assistant for children K-12 in Taiwan
Why he applied: “My main inspiration was my desire to live in a Chinese-speaking environment. The amazing relationships I've made with Chinese Americans have always made me feel that I would find many more meaningful relationships and learning experiences if I spent time living in a Chinese-speaking country.”
What he’s most excited about: “I am very excited to travel within Taiwan and see its cities and national parks. I'm also excited to be thrown into a challenging new position where I will have to build skills like patience, confidence, lesson planning, and resilience in uncomfortable settings.”
How CAS helped prepare him: “The professors of Chinese at UVM inspired me with their engaging lessons and endless support of my studies. Professor Hu helped me succeed in a teaching position at Vermont Chinese School, where I got to teach a weekly Chinese lesson to children. Though it was sometimes difficult to engage these kids with my lessons, I saw their Chinese abilities begin to improve, and this gave me motivation to keep teaching.”
What he hopes to gain: “I hope to develop sufficient Chinese proficiency to read and talk to locals about environmental issues. I also hope this experience will teach me how to be a confident English teacher able to adapt my teaching methods to my students' needs. I want to experience how different living in a foreign country is, so I can be less arrogant when developing my opinions on world affairs in the future.”
Max Dodson ’23
Majors: Environmental studies and political science
Hometown: Barnard, VT
Fulbright project: Working as an English teaching assistant in Taiwan
Why he applied: “I was inspired to apply for a Fulbright because I found a love for cultural immersion and exchange through my experience serving as a volunteer for the U.S. Peace Corps. I found the experience of learning from individuals with different cultural backgrounds than my own to be immensely fulfilling, and Fulbright seemed like a wonderful opportunity to expand upon those experiences.”
What he’s most excited about: “I have actually declined my Fulbright award offer to pursue a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at The Fletcher School at Tufts University. This was not an easy decision to make, and while I felt the Fulbright would be an absolutely incredible experience and one that would benefit me immensely, Tufts was my top choice for graduate school and is the best choice for me right now. However, I hope to pursue a Fulbright Fellowship again down the line.”
How his experience helped prepare him: “What helped me prepare most for this experience was my service in the Peace Corps, especially learning the value of building connections across cultural and language barriers. I was most influenced by my friends and the other volunteers who served with me in the Philippines. Never have I met a more caring and driven group of individuals who push each other to do their best and work to change the world for better. Not only did they provide constant support and guidance throughout my service, but they assisted me through every step of the Fulbright application process as well.”
Effi Jacobsen ’25
Major/minor: Linguistics major w/ certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), anthropology minor
Hometown: Evanston, IL
Fulbright project: Working as an English teaching assistant at the university level in Kosovo
Why she applied: “While on a gap year, I spent some time working as an assistant English teacher in Ecuador. The experience taught me how much I love connecting with people through languages. My first linguistics professor recommended Fulbright as a way to explore world languages, and I’ve kept the idea in my pocket since then.”
What she’s most excited about: “I’m excited to arrive in Kosovo and participate in my community there as much as possible. I plan to take advantage of every opportunity and push my own comfort level to get and give the most out of my time there.”
How CAS helped prepare her: “The linguistics department at UVM was a huge part of my preparation for this experience. Both my professors and peers helped me realize what I love so much about this field and seek opportunities to keep exploring it. I also credit Scott Clark and the FOUR office for supporting me every step of the way through this application.”
What she hopes to gain: “I hope to come back with a better understanding of my strengths and weaknesses as a teacher and some clarity about my path forward in this field. I hope to feel both that I made somebody’s language learning experience more enjoyable or successful by sharing my own love of languages. I especially hope to come back with proficiency in Albanian and friends to visit in Kosovo.”
Meghan Peyton Lee ’26
Majors: Political science and linguistics w/ certificate in TESOL
Hometown: Houston, TX
Fulbright project: Working as an English teaching assistant in Taipei, Taiwan
Why she applied: “I knew I wanted to have a post-graduate experience abroad and was itching to put the TESOL certificate to work in real professional contexts. I also interned for the State Department my junior year and wanted to continue being involved with their work in some capacity.”
What she’s most excited about: “I am most excited about immersing myself in the culture of a new country and city. I have never visited my family's homeland, but soon I'll be living and fulfilling my lifelong dream of becoming a teacher just off the coast of my grandparents' birthplace. I am especially excited to connect with locals, learn about the history, eat incredible food, reconnect with my heritage, and experience a world that for so many years felt strangely distant to me.”
How CAS helped prepare her: “My linguistics coursework in TESOL has been tremendously helpful. Through this certification program, I have been able to study the fundamentals of English grammar and pronunciation from learners' perspectives, design and execute practical lesson plans and language learning activities, and even tutor English language learners with Vermont Adult Learning.”
What she hopes to gain: “I hope to bring back a new understanding of Asian culture and professional environments. I also hope to grow as an individual in my ability to collaborate with locals while learning to navigate living and working in a foreign country. I'm also really excited to expand my personal language skills to include Mandarin and Taiwanese dialects.”
Dylan Moody A’ness ’26
Major/minors: English major, Reporting and Documentary Storytelling and German double-minor
Hometown: Thetford, VT
Fulbright project: Working as an English teaching assistant with migrant/refugee populations in Germany
Why he applied: “Any opportunity to become a better version of myself, learn new skills, and hopefully help people is attractive. Fulbright allows me to do all this.”
What he’s most excited about: “I'm excited to learn about my students, share stories, and make memories. I previously lived in Germany and got to know and love the culture. Also, lending a voice to underrepresented populations is super important to me, so I’m looking forward to that as well.”
How CAS helped prepare him: “I've been influenced by the many fantastic professors I've had at the University of Vermont. My college experience has taught me how to approach our world with empathy, curiosity, and wonder.”
What he hopes to gain: “Personally, I hope to bring back thousands of fantastic memories and experiences. Professionally, I hope to bring back the skills to be an effective and inspiring educator, as I plan to become a teacher.”
Lamija Šemić ’26
Major/minor: Biological science major, agroecology minor
Hometown: Burlington, VT
Fulbright project: Researching how octopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in the insect “fight-or-flight” response, allows invasive pests to spread and establish themselves in new regions despite exposure to control tactics
Why she applied: “I applied for a Fulbright scholarship to bridge my Bosnian heritage with my passion for agricultural research. I have been studying the effect of stress on the behavior of the Colorado potato beetle (CPB) since my first year at UVM. While visiting family in Bosnia during the summer of my sophomore year, I observed that CPB caused noticeable potato crop damage in the region. At that moment I knew I wanted to study CPB in Bosnia to better understand its ability to rapidly invade new environments and tolerate a variety of pest management tactics.”
What she’s most excited about: “I am excited to visit family and also form new connections at the Džemal Bijedić University of Mostar, where I will be conducting my research independently.”
How UVM helped prepare her: “The Insect Agroecology and Evolution Lab and FOUR office have supported me tremendously in developing and funding my research. Additionally, completing a minor in agroecology has introduced me to a passionate community of researchers that combines cultural diversity with academia and agriculture.”
What she hopes to gain: “My primary objective is to return with a greater understanding of how octopamine affects the behavioral stress response of geographically distinct populations of CPB. I also hope to compare the practices used to control CPB in each region and reflect on how they can be revised to create a more sustainable management program.”
Ben Yurek ’26
Major/minor: Linguistics major w/ certificate in TESOL, Japanese minor
Hometown: Morris Plains, NJ
Fulbright project: Working as an English teaching assistant with elementary and/or middle school students in Taitung, Taiwan
Why he applied: “One of my strongest passions is cross-cultural communication and understanding, and what better way to continue working towards that than by building on my international experience with a language teaching position!”
What he’s most excited about: “I think I am most excited about simply getting to meet and know all the people I will be working with during my time there.”
How CAS helped prepare him: “My studies at UVM significantly broadened my knowledge and perspective on how language works and functions in a society. From studying second language acquisition science in my linguistics and TESOL classes, to experiencing first-hand how meaning can be expressed and interpreted in a non-European language through my Japanese classes, I feel I have a strong foundation to pull from and build on. Branching away from academics, simply navigating life away from home while in Burlington and in Japan while studying abroad has been tremendous in preparing me for making the most out of all the twists and turns that come my way.”
What he hopes to gain: “Language has always been a huge interest of mine, and being able to actually speak each other’s languages is a huge part of facilitating any intercultural exchange. My goal is to make myself into someone who can not only effectively teach foreign languages but also inspire people to want to learn them in the first place. I also hope to improve my Mandarin skills along the way.”