VCU 2023 Fulbright Semifinalists
Twenty-seven Virginia Commonwealth University students and alumni have been named semifinalists for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the 2023-2024 academic year.
These candidates will advance to the final round of evaluation and will be notified of their selection status on a rolling basis from March through May.
The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The program operates in over 160 countries worldwide. More than 2,000 grants are given to graduating seniors, recent alumni and graduate students to conduct research, carry out creative projects, pursue a year of postgraduate study or teach English abroad.
VCU’s 27 Fulbright semifinalists are listed below with their name, host country and grant type:
Current Students:
- Muhammad Babar, a member of the Honors College who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s in chemistry from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to Uzbekistan for an English Teaching Assistant award.
- MiJin Cho, a member of the Honors College who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s in English from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to Australia for a Study/Research award in public health.
- Linda Hamrick, who will graduate in May with a master’s degree in English from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to Finland for a Study/Research award in literature.
- Oscar Kemp, who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in social work from the School of Social Work, applied to Uganda for an English Teaching Assistant Award.
- Briana Meehan, who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to Paraguay for an English Teaching Assistant Award.
- Ishaan Nandwani, a member of the Honors College who will graduate in May with dual degrees in biology and Spanish from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to Colombia for an English Teaching Assistant Award.
- Amelie Nkodo, who will graduate in 2024 with a doctor of medicine degree from the School of Medicine, applied to Cameroon for a Study/Research award in public health.
- Kaleigh O’Toole, who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s in English from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to Portugal for an English Teaching Assistant Award.
- Anne Penrod, who will graduate in May with dual degrees in psychology and sociology from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to South Korea for an English Teaching Assistant Award.
- Dulanda Saintcyr, who will graduate in May with bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to South Korea for a Study/Research award in political science.
- Katy Scarlett, who will graduate in May with a master’s degree in creative writing from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to Poland for a Study/Research award in creative writing.
- Julia Tracy, who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional studies from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, applied to Mauritius for an English Teaching Assistant Award.
- Vineeth Vaidyula, a member of the Honors College who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in biology from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to India for a Study/Research award in medical sciences.
- Brandon Velasco, a member of the Honors College who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to the Philippines for a Study/Research award in public health.
- Julia Weichlein, a member of the Honors College who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in art history from the School of the Arts, applied to Austria for a Study/Research award in art history.
- Kristen Wheatley, who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in craft from the School of the Arts, applied to Sweden for a Study/Research award in design.
Alumni:
- Joi Brown, who received a bachelor’s degree in dance and choreography from the School of Arts in 2022, applied to Barbados for a Study/Research award in dance and choreography.
- Cameron Clay, who received a master’s degree in biology from the College of Humanities and Sciences in 2021, applied to Mexico for a Study/Research award in biology.
- Drea George, who received a bachelor’s degree in kinetic imaging from the School of Arts in 2018, applied to France for a Study/Research award in animation.
- Atoosa Haghani, who received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Humanities and Sciences in 2020, applied to Azerbaijan for an English Teaching Assistant award.
- Xavier Moore, an alumnus of the Honors College who received dual bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and biology from the College of Humanities and Sciences in 2021, applied to Belgium for a Study/Research award in biology.
- Samuel Paek, who received a bachelor’s degree in biology from the College of Humanities and Sciences in 2018, applied to Malawi for a Study/Research award in medical sciences.
- Logan Perkins, who received a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the College of Humanities and Sciences in 2021, applied to the United Kingdom for a Study/Research award in anthropology.
- Chris Pleasant, who received a bachelor’s degree in fashion design from the School of the Arts in 2021, applied to the Netherlands for a Study/Research award in fashion design.
- Leslie Pyo, an alumna of the Honors College who received a bachelor’s degree in painting and printmaking from the School of the Arts in 2016, applied to South Korea for a Study/Research award in creative writing.
- Samara Shabon, an alumna of the Honors College who received dual degrees in philosophy from the College of Humanities and Sciences and bioinformatics from VCU Life Sciences in 2022, applied to Turkey for an English Teaching Assistant Award.
VCU’s National Scholarship Office (NSO) assists students and recent alumni with the application process for the Fulbright Program and other esteemed awards. To learn more about external funding opportunities, schedule an appointment with a member of the NSO staff.
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