Davidson College Continues Streak as a Top Fulbright Producer
February 11, 2026
- Author
- Mary Elizabeth DeAngelis
They represent the United States around the world, bringing their talents to places that include elementary school classrooms, graduate programs and research labs.
And once again, the U.S. State Department has named Davidson College as one of its top producing institutions for Fulbright U.S. Student Program finalists.
Eight young alumni are spending the 2025-2026 academic year studying or teaching abroad in places ranging from Taiwan and South Korea to Spain and Germany.
Davidson is the program’s highest producer among four-year baccalaureate institutions in the south. More than 50 finalists have been selected from the college since 2020.
The Fulbright Program offers talented scholars from the United States and 160 other countries opportunities to teach, research and study abroad. It was established in 1946 as the government’s leading international exchange program and now has more than 400,000 alumni.
Many have gone on to become leaders in industry, government, education and research.
Originally published July 2025:
Around the World: Davidson College Alumni Awarded Fulbright Grants
From Asia to Europe to South America, eight young Davidson College alumni have been awarded post graduate grants to teach and study abroad for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Another five were named as alternates.
Their grant awards, for graduate study and English Teaching Assistantships (ETAs), will include five different countries during the 2025-2026 Fulbright U.S. Student Program period.
Last year marked the 12th year that Davidson received Fulbright Student top producer recognition from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Since 2020, more than 50 Davidson candidates have been named Fulbright U.S. Student Program finalists.
The Fulbright Program has given more than 400,000 scholars, artists, teachers and professionals of all backgrounds the opportunity to teach, study and conduct research abroad.
Their talents have worldwide impact on leadership, diplomacy and international relations. Fulbright program alumni include Nobel Laurates, Pulitzer Prize winners, heads of government and leaders in the public, private and non-profit sectors.
Davidson’s Fulbright Finalists include:
Kaitlyn Busch ’25, English Teaching Assistantship, Uruguay
From: Durham, North Carolina
Major: Educational Studies and Hispanic Studies
Lillian Byer ’23, Master’s Degree Program Awards: Taipei Medical University Awards in Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taiwan
From: Rockingham, Virginia
Major: Neuroscience
Clyde Dwyer ’25, English Teaching Assistantship, South Korea
From: Brooklyn, New York
Major: Philosophy, Politics, & Economics and East Asian Studies
Kobi Iheoma ’23, English Teaching Assistantship, Spain
From: Southampton, Pennsylvania
Major: Psychology
Grace Isernia ’25, English Teaching Assistantship, Germany
From: Latham, New York
Major: German Studies and Psychology
Brigid McCarthy ’25, English Teaching Assistantship, Spain
From: Manasquan, New Jersey
Major: English
Isabella McCormick ’25, English Teaching Assistantship, Spain
From: Fairhope, Alabama
Major: Comparative Literature
Nina Seijn ’25, English Teaching Assistantship, Germany
From: Greensboro, North Carolina
Major: Political Science and History
Five recent Davidson graduates were named as Alternates:
Brodric Bassett ’25, Study/Research, United Arab Emirates
Harrison Grooms ’25, English Teaching Assistantship, Mexico
Stephen Mirabello ’25, Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS) de Rennes Award, France
Abigail Ruby ’25, English Teaching Assistantship, Jordan
Meghan Sood ’25, English Teaching Assistantship, Cameroon
The Fulbright competition is administered at Davidson College through the Office of Fellowships. Visit the Office of Fellowships website for more information or to learn more about how to apply for Fulbright through Davidson.
