Ten Stony Brook Students Receive Prestigious Fulbright Scholarships

Ten Stony Brook University students have been recognized by the Department of State’s prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program, a highly competitive scholarship opportunity that provides funding for American students to conduct research or teach English in more than 140 countries overseas.

The Fulbright Program, which was created by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946, provides grants annually for international research and teaching to foster global partnership and cultural exchange.

“Even in challenging times, the talent and dedication of Stony Brook students shines through,” said External Scholarships and Fellowships Advisor Jennifer Green. “These bright and accomplished students are headed for an exciting future.”

This year’s Fulbright honorees, profiled below, are Carolyn Acosta, Emily Carll, Ashley Du, Kevin Hatton, Nathalie Peña, Hayley Rein, Amanda Rowe, Robert Serrano, Kelly Smestad and Peony Tse.

Alternates are Mary Bertschi, Dominick DeGaetano, Ian Lesnick and Jeremy Nielsen.

“I am so grateful to Jen Green and her collaborators on the faculty and staff, who have in a short time elevated Stony Brook to the top ranks of national institutions that are winning Fulbrights,” said Eric Wertheimer, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School. “The trend is upwards, and the higher ed community is starting to take notice of our outstanding students and the university culture that assures their growth and success. Our momentum is real — watch this space.”

“Fulbright provides an invaluable opportunity for Stony Brook students, current and past, to gain direct experience of other places in the world and people, cultural practices, material conditions, political orders, as well as intellectual and professional lives there,” said Eric Beverley, Associate Professor of History and the longest-serving member of the Fulbright Campus Committee.

“This engagement offers a perspective on the world from different vantage points and is a central part of the Fulbright program’s guiding principle of cultural ambassadorship. The overall experience, regardless of outcomes, allows fellows to critically reflect on the role the United States plays in global politics, economics and culture.”

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