USC once more recognized as a leading producer of U.S. Fulbright students and scholars

USC received acknowledgment on Tuesday as a leading producer of U.S. Fulbright scholars and students for 2024-25. A limited number of colleges and universities achieve top producer status for both esteemed programs.

Twenty-four USC students and recent alumni have accepted Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants, while four faculty and two graduate students accepted Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program grants. The Fulbright programs, primarily funded by the U.S. Department of State, offer grants for custom study/research initiatives or for English teaching assistantships.

“The accomplishments of Fulbright culture at USC highlight our fundamental value of academic excellence that promotes genuine global impact,” stated USC Provost Andrew T. Guzman. “Each year, I eagerly anticipate seeing many of our distinguished student and faculty scholars selected for the Fulbright, and this year is no different. I aspire to maintain our pursuit of world-class scholarship recognized with honors of this stature as we look towards the future.”

The Fulbright programs enable recipients to broaden their outlook, engage with others, and deepen their understanding of diverse cultures and nations. Each year, over 2,000 students, early-career professionals, and artists receive a one-year Fulbright grant.

The Fulbright programs represent the U.S. government’s preeminent international academic exchange initiative. Since 1946, these programs have awarded more than 400,000 grants and scholarships to individuals selected for their academic excellence and leadership traits.

2024-25 USC Fulbright students

Arthur Bookstein is set to graduate in May with a Doctor in Medicine degree from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Bookstein was awarded a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to Japan, where he intends to investigate the influence of social determinants on health regarding viral-related liver cancer. Following his Fulbright engagement, Bookstein plans to embark on post-graduate training in Combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, eventually aiming for a career as a medical oncologist, cancer researcher, and policy advocate.

Eric Bui completed his studies in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Law. Bui received an English Teaching Assistant Award to Vietnam. In Vietnam, Bui aims to serve as a Vietnamese American cultural ambassador, collaborating with gifted high school students in Bac Giang province. After his Fulbright experience, Bui aspires to pursue a JD-PhD and to operate at the intersection of constitutional and immigration law as an appellate attorney.

Vian Bui graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration focused on finance. Bui received an English Teaching Assistant Award in Vietnam, where she plans to instruct the local community in financial literacy. Upon completion of her Fulbright responsibilities, Bui intends to work in investment banking in New York.

Giancarlo Ceja graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Art in Environmental Studies and International Relations, complemented by a minor in Web Technologies and Applications. He was awarded an English Teaching
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Assistant Award granted to South Korea. Ceja is enthusiastic about pursuing a profession in environmental equity, advocating for mitigation policies that safeguard marginalized communities who are most vulnerable to the climate emergency.

Samantha Chacko graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Law, along with two minors in Law and Public Policy, and Musical Studies: Classical Voice. Chacko received the Fulbright-Nehru Open Study/Research Award to examine women’s access to legal aid in Bangalore, India. Following the completion of her Fulbright project, Chacko aims to attend law school and strive for a career aimed at enhancing access to justice.

Hunter Cibula fulfilled his studies at USC in December 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies. Cibula was granted the Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to Argentina, where he will produce two short-form documentaries that highlight the urgency of climate change as both a national and global concern through the experiences of the Andean communities directly facing its effects. Post-Fulbright, Cibula plans to persist in a career in documentary filmmaking, revealing untold narratives about the world’s landscapes and cultures.

Kristin Nguyen Dickson graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Law, alongside minors in Spanish and Theater. Dickson earned an English Teaching Assistant Award to Vietnam. After her Fulbright involvement, Dickson aspires to further her education by pursuing a law degree.

Phong Doozy graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Sciences, focusing on aging, and holds minors in Comedy (Performance) and Psychology and Law as he combines his enthusiasm for humor with healthcare and academic pursuits. He has also earned a master’s in Health Administration. Doozy has been granted an English Teaching Assistant Award to Vietnam, where he will apply his expertise in education and health. Following his Fulbright journey, Doozy is dedicated to a profession in health administration, concentrating on improving access and quality of care for patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Quinn Driver graduated from USC in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy. Driver was honored with an English Teaching Assistant Award to Malawi. She will leverage her experience as an educator at the Girls Athletic Leadership School Los Angeles by teaching English abroad, fostering community engagement through dance and sports. After Fulbright, Driver intends to advance her career in education and educational leadership.

Kylie Eiselstein graduated in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Art in Cinema and Media Studies and a minor in Philosophy. Eiselstein secured an English Teaching Assistant Award in Indonesia and aims to merge her media knowledge to showcase lesser-known films and highlight the breadth of the entertainment industry. After her Fulbright experience, Eiselstein intends to continue her journey as an educator, teaching English and history.

Gemma Fa-Kaji graduated May 2024 with a Master of Arts in Teaching, after obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and a minor in Chinese in 2023. Fa-Kaji earned an English Teaching Assistant Award to Taiwan, where she aims to connect with Taiwan’s indigenous populations, introduce students to international diaspora cultures through her Asian American heritage, and promote low-pressure classroom dynamics using play and cooperation. After her Fulbright experience, Fa-Kaji plans to return to the United States to instruct in schools with a notable percentage of English language learners.

Gaveen Godage graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a Master of Science in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Godage was awarded a Fulbright Research Award to Germany, where he will investigate the genetic foundations of congenital heart disease utilizing stem cells from patients. After his Fulbright tenure, Godage plans to pursue a medical career with a focus on international collaborations to enhance care for children with heart defects globally.

Sasha Hussain graduated in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Sciences. Hussain received an English Teaching Assistant Award to South Korea, where she plans to establish a local lacrosse team to introduce students to the transformative potential of outdoor activities. After her Fulbright project, she will pursue a medical career to tackle health disparities and bolster social frameworks that prioritize preventative strategies.

Sarra Hussien graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Psychology. Hussien earned an English Teaching Assistant Award to Kenya. Following her Fulbright experience, Hussien intends to attend law school, specializing in immigration law, enhancing her dedication to refugee advocacy.

Aditi Jagannathan graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Computational Neuroscience and minored in Artificial Intelligence Applications and Gender and Social Justice. Jagannathan received an Open Research Award to the Netherlands, where she will investigate transcriptional signatures linked to Alzheimer’s disease resilience and vulnerability. After her Fulbright work, Jagannathan plans to pursue graduate studies and engage in the neurotechnology sector working on potential treatments for neurodegenerative disorders.

Nivea Krishnan graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Krishnan received an English Teaching Assistant Award to Spain. Following her Fulbright experience, Krishnan aspires to attend law school and forge a career in public interest litigation, particularly aiming to defend civil rights and liberties for historically underrepresented communities.

Kira Liljegren graduated May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and minors in German and Theater. Liljegren received an English Teaching Assistant Award to Germany. After her Fulbright experience, Liljegren plans to attend law school and eventually work in the field of human rights advocacy.

Kevin Lu graduated in December 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and a minor in Social Entrepreneurship. He was awarded a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to Estonia to explore Estonia’s climate technology, its effectiveness in achieving net-zero emissions, and how these innovations can be further implemented in various markets. After completing his Fulbright grant, Lu intends to pursue graduate studies in sustainable business.

Liliana Ruvalcaba graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Sciences and minors in Health Care Studies and Natural Science, along with a Master of Arts in Medical Gerontology. Ruvalcaba received a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to Colombia, where she will conduct research in Global Health, specifically on enhancing healthcare access for older adults in Bogotá. After her Fulbright experience, Ruvalcaba aims to pursue a career in medicine, concentrating on geriatric care.

Shourav Saha graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, emphasizing Chemical Biology. Saha received a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to Switzerland, where he will employ synchrotron and X-ray free electron lasers at the Paul Scherrer Institute for time-resolved crystallographic studies of biomolecules pertinent to cancer. After his Fulbright involvement, Saha plans to pursue a doctorate in Chemistry at the University of Chicago, specializing in ultrafast spectroscopy.

Ananya Shah graduated from USC in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Narrative Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy, along with a minor in Screenwriting. She was awarded an English Assistant Teaching Award to the Slovak Republic. She aspires to leverage her Fulbright experience to further her career in education, focusing on educational leadership and policy.

Natalie Sipula graduated in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Art in Philosophy, Politics, and Law and Spanish. She received an English Assistant Teaching Award to Colombia. After her return from Colombia, Sipula seeks to attend law school and pursue a career as a government attorney with a focus on the Latin American region.

Nicole Song graduated in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science and minors in User Experience, and Education and Society, and graduated in May 2024 with a Master of Science in Digital Social Media. Song won an English Teaching Assistant Award to Taiwan. Following her Fulbright experience, Song aims to work in the entertainment sector as a researcher, identifying trends to advance educational technology for children.

Hanna Sun Teerman graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a minor in Business Law. Teerman received an English Teaching Assistant Award to Taiwan. After her Fulbright involvement, she plans to attend law school and work at the junction of law, human rights, and technology.

2024-25 USC Fulbright scholars

Jordan Chancellor (doctoral candidate, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences) will pursue biology studies at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, Spain.

Jenifer Crawford (professor, USC Rossier School of Education) will engage in education studies at Universidad Veracruzana in Veracruz, Mexico.

Katie Googe (graduate student, USC Dornsife) will study literature at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic.

Nina Kang (lecturer, Bovard College) will focus on language studies at The University of Jordan in Amman.

Serghei Mangul (assistant professor, USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences) will study biology at the Technical University of Moldova in Chișinău.

Jessica Marglin (professor, USC Dornsife) will study history at Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales in Paris.