Eleven UI Students Win Fulbright Awards for 2026–27 Academic Year

Eleven students from the University of Iowa have achieved a remarkable feat by being chosen from a pool of over 10,000 applicants nationwide to receive Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the 2026–27 academic year. These students, all hailing from Iowa, will represent the U.S. Department of State globally, engaging in English teaching, community service, and research efforts.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the United States government’s premier international educational exchange initiative, aims to foster mutual understanding and peaceful relations between the U.S. and other nations. Celebrating its 80th anniversary, the program continues to uphold its mission of global connectivity and diplomacy.

University of Iowa’s Continued Success

The University of Iowa has consistently been recognized as a leader in global education, having been named a Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Student Awards for a decade. Russ Ganim, associate provost and dean of International Programs, expressed, “News of UI’s continued Fulbright success is as joyful as it is affirming. Our university’s reputation as a leader in global education is underscored by the character, intellect, and perseverance of our Fulbright student awardees.”

Applicants undergo a rigorous preparation process, typically dedicating over six months to develop their application materials with guidance from Fulbright Program Advisor Karen Wachsmuth and a team of over 40 faculty mentors, committee members, and staff.

Inspiring Paths to Fulbright

For many awardees, the journey to Fulbright began with pivotal experiences during their university years. Lucia Rongerude, who will teach English in Colombia, credits her study abroad experience at the University of Iowa as a major source of inspiration. “Studying abroad, and the university as a whole, taught me that I am capable of anything I put my mind to and helped me feel comfortable being on my own,” she shared.

Tristen Wendling, who will head to Germany with a Fulbright English teaching assistantship, found his direction through the Leona Zaharis Scholarship and the Academic Year in Freiburg program. “The scholarship’s emphasis on exploring the world, combined with AYF’s focus on full cultural immersion in Germany, pushed me toward deeper personal and professional growth through daily life abroad,” said Wendling.

Klaertje Hesselink’s journey began with a classroom project involving a mock Fulbright proposal, which set the stage for her successful application to conduct research in Germany. “Professor Greenwood-Sanchez reviewed multiple drafts and consistently challenged me to think critically about how to design a compelling and feasible project,” she noted.

Notable Placements and Achievements

This year’s awardees include several notable placements. Two students have been accepted into competitive English teaching programs in North Macedonia and Tajikistan, marking a first for UI students in these locations. Karen Wachsmuth highlighted the rigorous selection process, stating, “We are proud to celebrate the success of this year’s Fulbright awardees, who have persevered through two rounds of review in the United States and in their host countries in a competition of more than 10,000 applicants.”

For these students, the Fulbright award is not just an academic opportunity but the fulfillment of long-held aspirations. Kate Struble, set to teach in Bulgaria, attributes her ambition to a spontaneous decision to attend a Fulbright presentation during her first year at UI. “Ever since, pursuing a Fulbright ETA grant has been a goal of mine, as I have always wanted to teach and live abroad,” she said, encouraging others to take the first step.

Meet the Fulbright Awardees

Emma Anderson, of Boone, Iowa, graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in international relations and political science. Selected for a Fulbright English teaching assistant award in Tajikistan, Anderson will also lead a girls’ literature and film club, and collaborate with learners to create a multilingual press book.

Olga Colmenero Carrillo, of Muscatine, Iowa, graduated in 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education. With a Fulbright English teaching assistant award to the Canary Islands, Spain, Colmenero Carrillo will support English language learners and lead a community literacy project that encourages young students to develop their own stories.

Emma Fuchtman, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, graduated in 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts in art history. With a Fulbright/Maastricht University graduate studies award in the Netherlands, Fuchtman will pursue a master’s degree in arts and heritage: policy, management, and education.

Klaertje Hesselink, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, graduated in 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in biochemical engineering. With a Fulbright study/research grant in Germany, Hesselink will conduct environmental chemistry research in the Bavarian Alps, studying contaminants in glacial runoff and permafrost to understand how they may affect ecosystems and human health.

Marta Leira, of Iowa City, Iowa, earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology in 2025. With a Fulbright English teaching assistant award in Portugal, Leira will teach at a health sciences institution while organizing community engagement projects and exploring connections between language, culture, and health.

Josie Mbaye, of Slater, Iowa, earned a Bachelor of Arts in environmental science in 2025 and will complete a Master of Arts in teaching in May 2026. A former Gilman award winner, Mbaye was selected for a Fulbright English teaching assistant award in Taiwan but has declined the award to pursue a teaching position in the United States.

Gianna Rocca, of Solon, Iowa, earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and creative writing and education in 2025. With a Fulbright English teaching assistant award in South Korea, Rocca will teach English and lead an English-language board game club.

Lucia Rongerude, of Des Moines, Iowa, graduated in 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics and Spanish. With a Fulbright English teaching assistant award in Colombia, Rongerude will teach English at the university level, study Indigenous languages, and lead a bilingual conversation club.

Kate Struble, of Clinton, Iowa, earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication and ethics and public policy in 2022. With a Fulbright English teaching assistant award in Bulgaria, Struble will teach English in Burgas, coach a speech team, and lead conversation groups and community activities.

Tristen Wendling, of Riverside, Iowa, earned a Bachelor of Arts in German in 2025. With a Fulbright English teaching assistant award to Bavaria, Germany, Wendling will teach English while engaging with the local community and developing supplemental projects.

Katrina Wolfe, of Iowa City, Iowa, earned a Bachelor of Arts in ethics and public policy in 2025. With a Fulbright English teaching assistant award in North Macedonia, Wolfe will teach English and host a weekly university radio show.

Additionally, four semifinalists were named as alternates for 2026–27: