We are thrilled to announce Drexel's twelve semi-finalists for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program for 2026-27. This program awards funding for one academic year of self-designed graduate study, research, creative projects, or teaching English in over 140 countries around the world. These students and alumni spent considerable time working on their applications and we are so proud of their hard work and dedication to the process.
After being chosen by Fulbright U.S. National Screening Committees, their applications have been passed to the host countries for final selection. They will hear in the coming months whether they receive the award. We wish them the best of luck!
Marjona Aliakbarova, BS psychology '25
Semi-Finalist for English Teaching Assistantship to Greece
Marjona Aliakbarova graduated from Drexel University in Spring 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in biological sciences. She completed her co-op as a Clinical Research Assistant in the Department of Endocrinology at Nemours DuPont Pediatric Research, where she was invited to remain in the role following the conclusion of her co-op. In this position, she contributed to NIH-funded studies focused on pediatric health and development, gained clinical shadowing experience, and also conducted a small-scale independent project identifying fertility clinics offering the microTESE procedure as a resource for departmental use.
Her clinical experience also includes volunteer work in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Holy Redeemer Hospital. During her time at Drexel, she also served as an Administrative Assistant for Drexel's BS+MD Psychology Department and was involved in the Saving Mothers Organization and the Perfect Pair Organization.
Marjona's long-term goal is to become a physician with a focus on global health and cross-cultural care. If selected for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Greece, she hopes to use the experience to deepen her understanding of how culture and tradition influence health, while strengthening her ability to communicate across cultures and build trust with diverse populations.
Alessandra Cabrera, materials science & engineering '26, Honors
Semi-Finalist for English Teaching Assistantship to Kazakhstan
Alessandra is pursuing a BS in Materials Science and Engineering at Drexel University with a minor in linguistics. Her academic interests bridge engineering and language, reflecting her desire not to be defined by a single discipline. Alessandra has been recognized as a co-author of published work in Nature for her research on multifunctional MXene–polymer film composites in collaboration with the A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute. She is an active leader on campus and serves as President of both Material Advantage, a professional organization for Materials Science and Engineering students, and Lit Lab, a self-started science and humanities journal. In support of her passion for language and writing, Alessandra has worked as a Peer Reader at the Drexel Writing Center and completed additional coursework in English-language instruction.
She is the recipient of the College of Engineering 2026 Outstanding Student Award and has been affiliated with the Pennoni Honors College as a 2022 STAR Scholar and Velay Fellow, 2022-23 Aspire Scholar, and UREP Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant recipient.
Maven Mercado, environmental science '26
Semi-Finalist for Study/Research Grant to Canada
Maven (they/he) will be graduating in spring 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, with a minor in geoscience. They are a student in the Liberty Scholars Program, which awards underrepresented students with a full-tuition scholarship for twelve academic quarters. During the summer after their freshman year, they interned with Heights Philadelphia as a teaching/administrative assistant. For their first co-op, they were awarded funding in the amount of $6,000 from the Steinbright Partners Program to complete an unpaid co-op at the Philadelphia Zoo. Between January 2023 and October 2025, they worked as a research assistant in the Invertebrate Paleontology department of the Academy of Natural Sciences, which resulted in a publication in the journal Frontiers of Marine Science.
They are also a recipient of DAAD-RISE, which allowed them to spend three months in Hamburg, Germany researching body size changes in ostracods across the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. In 2024, Maven was a recipient of the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship, which led to a 10-week internship with NOAA's Deep Sea Coral Research & Technology Program and a subsequent poster presentation on the development of a deep-sea coral & sponge habitat guide at AGU2025 in New Orleans, LA.
Maven is a queer, Hispanic, first-generation North Philly native who takes pride in all of these identities. When they're not focuses on school, work, or research, they love reading, watching horror movies, and playing games on their Nintendo Switch.
This Fulbright Study/Research Grant would fund the first year of a MSc Oceanography at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada focusing on deep-sea corals research. In addition to their fellowships applications, Maven has been involved with the Pennoni Honors College as a member of the SuperNova Undergraduate Research Fellows program.
Becca Newman, BA global studies '25, Honors
Semi-Finalist for English Teaching Assistantship to Cameroon
Becca Newman is a Drexel University (Pennoni Honors College) alumna with a BA in Global Studies (Global Justice & Human Rights) and minors in French and fine arts. She is currently a Public Information Intern with the United Nations Department of Global Communications, supporting United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI). She received Drexel’s 2025 Global Studies Capstone Award for a multimedia website examining French language diplomacy as soft power. Her work focuses on making international relations more accessible by examining how communication and access to education shape public understanding of global issues. If selected for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award in Cameroon, she would support secondary-level English learning and community-based programming in Yaoundé, while participating in cultural exchange and completing an independent research project alongside the grant.
Joseph Robertson, BS environmental science '24
Semi-Finalist for Study/Research Grant to New Zealand
Joseph Robertson is an alumnus of Drexel's Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, receiving his BS in Environmental Science in June 2024. Joseph's passion for the environment began at a young age from his participation in outdoor recreation through Boy Scouts. His positive experience in Drexel's Environmental Science Leadership Academy in high school influenced him to pursue a degree in environmental science. His co-ops enabled him to explore research and public outreach in conservation programs, culminating in an internship at Victoria University of Wellington assisting in a coastal ecology lab.
Joseph intends to pursue a career in conservation biology and seeks an international approach to studying the ecological and cultural significance of biodiversity. His proposed Fulbright grant will enable him to pursue a Master's in Conservation Biology at Victoria University of Wellington, focusing on further developing strategies for protecting New Zealand's endemic wildlife through invasive species control and urban rewilding programs.
Andrea Roguer, MS interdisciplinary health sciences '25
Semi-Finalist for Fulbright/University of Stirling Award in Health, Well-being and Sport to the United Kingdom
Andrea Roguer is a dedicated scholar, lifelong athlete, and aspiring physician whose work bridges biomedical research, athlete mental health, and culturally responsive care. She earned her MS in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences from Drexel University in May 2025, where she served as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Detloff Lab at the College of Medicine. Her master’s thesis investigated neuroimmune mechanisms underlying mood disorders and neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury, deepening her commitment to understanding the interplay between physical trauma and psychological well-being.
Andrea’s clinical and community engagement experiences have further shaped her professional path. As a certified EMT during the COVID-19 pandemic, she supported emergency response efforts and trained volunteers in Spanish medical interpretation throughout her undergraduate career. Throughout her graduate education, she volunteered at Puentes de Salud, where she led bilingual health education sessions and interpreted for uninsured Latino patients. These roles strengthened her dedication to accessible, culturally informed healthcare.
Her selection as a semi-finalist for the Fulbright University of Stirling Award in Health, Well-being and Sport will support graduate study at the University of Stirling, where she plans to pursue an MSc in Psychology of Sport. Drawing from her experiences as a competitive basketball player and researcher, Andrea aims to examine how psychological, cultural, and gender-related factors shape athlete health and injury recovery, particularly for women and athletes from underrepresented communities.
In the future, Andrea plans to attend medical school and work at the intersection of physical and mental health. She aims to integrate sport psychology into clinical practice and advance recovery models that recognize the psychological, cultural, and social dimensions of healing to ensure that her future patients receive care that honors the full complexity of their experiences.
Benjamin Rosenfeld, chemical engineering '26, Honors
Semi-Finalist for Fulbright-LUT University Graduate Award to Finland
Ben is a fifth-year Honors undergraduate student at Drexel University studying chemical engineering. He plans to pursue a master's degree after graduation and learn more about sustainable energy. Ben plans to use his knowledge of sustainable energy to improve the economic viability of novel sustainable energy sources. His proposed Fulbright master's program in Sustainable Energy Systems at LUT University focuses on expanding and developing renewable energy sources.
Through the co-op system, Ben was able to gain experience at Manko, Gold, Katcher, Fox, LLC. and PBF Energy where he developed his career goals to work in sustainable energy. Ben also attributes his career interests to his academic coursework and points out his "Solutions to Climate Change" elective as being especially influential. During his time at Drexel, Ben has been a part of the American Institute for Chemical Engineers, Drexel Club Baseball, Tau Beta Pi Honors society, and more!
Matthew Soesanto, biological sciences '26
Semi-Finalist for Study/Research Grant to Indonesia
Matthew is senior at Drexel studying biology with a minor in bioinformatics. He has developed a strong passion for genomics and symbiotic relationships through his past experiences at the Weckstein ab and Gould lab at Temple University. As of now, Matthew was announced as a semi-finalist for the Fulbright Research Grant. His project will focus on studying the symbiotic relationships between siphon fish and their bioluminescent symbionts in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Other than doing research, Matthew enjoys going on runs on the Schuylkill River Trail, bouldering, and taking pictures. Matthew has been involved in the Pennoni Honors College as a 2022 STAR Scholar, 2022-23 Aspire Scholar, and Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant Recipient.
Zale Stark, BS animation & visual effects '25, Honors
Semi-Finalist for Study/Research Grant to Greece
Zale Springer Stark graduated cum laude from Drexel University with a BS in Animation and Visual Effects in 2025. Their involvement in research began in 2021 as a STAR Scholar under Dr. Melinda Lewis studying the history and etymology of fandom and participatory culture. Their work as the art director of Pennoni Honors College and visual report developer at CSL Behring prepared them to co-lead the Cryptids Studios team as creative director in their senior year. In January 2026, they became a Fulbright semi-finalist pursuing a Master's Degree in Cultural Heritage Materials and Technologies at the University of the Peloponnese. While awaiting a final decision from the Fulbright Commission, they are teaching fashion illustration in New Jersey and maintain a consignment contract with Philly’s own South Street Art Mart.
This list does not include the semi-finalists who declined to be publicized in this step of the process.
Special thanks to the Drexel faculty, staff, and Fulbright alumni who worked with UREP during the summer and fall to advise individual applicants, review campus applications, and conduct campus interviews:
Lloyd Ackert, History, CoAS
Francis Tanglao Aguas, Cinema & Television, Westphal
Peter Amato, English & Philosophy, CoAS
Benjamin Barnett, English Language Center, CoAS
Nicole Bedoya, BA '19, 2020-21 Fulbright to Brazil, International Students & Scholars Services
Brandy Bobryshev, Advising, CCI
Resa Brinkley, Steinbright Career Development Center
Susan Brooks, Kline School of Law
Tariem Burroughs, Student Success, Dornsife
Neha Chongtham, BS '23, 2023-24 Fulbright to Malta
Jillian Clark, Steinbright Career Development Center
Jane Clougherty, Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife
Laura-Edythe Coleman, Arts Administration & Museum Leadership, Westphal
David Conlin, Pennoni Honors College
Matthew D'Arcy, BS '14, 2014-15 Fulbright to South Korea
Maria de la Luz Matus-Mendoza, Global Studies, CoAS
Casey Devine, Education Abroad, Drexel Global
Karen DeVose, Advising, CCI
Erin Durkin, Student Success, Dornsife
Kevin Egan, Pennoni Honors College
Matthew Gallagher, Advising, LeBow
Mercer Gary, English & Philosophy, CoAS
Tali Gidalevitz, Biology, CoAS
Caryn Glaser, Biomedical Engineering, BIOMED
Meg K. Guliford, Politics, CoAS
Jordan Hyatt, Criminology & Justice Studies, Public Policy, CoAS
Stephanie Katz, MS '20, 2022-23 Fulbright to Spain
Ali Kenner, Politics, Science, Technology & Society, CoAS
Valerie Klein, Education, SoE
Sergei Kostiaev, Politics, CoAS
Christopher Laincz, Economics, LeBow
Aaron Laskey, Student Services, CNHP
Kari Lenhart, Biology, CoAS
Melinda Lewis, Pennoni Honors College
Roxane Lovell, Pennoni Honors College
Brent Luvaas, Global Studies, CoAS
Natalie Mancini, Global Studies, CoAS
Antonio Martinez-Molina, Architecture, Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering, Westphal
Jaya Mohan, Pennoni Honors College
Kristine Mulhorn, Health Administration, LeBow
Allison Nahmias, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
VK Narayanan, Management, LeBow
Timothy Nawrocki, Architecture, Westphal
Dylan O'Donoghue, MLS '18, 2018-19 Fulbright to Taiwan
Marissa Olson, BA '20, 2020-21 Fulbright to Spain
Constance Perry, Health Administration, CNHP
Abioseh Porter, English & Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Studies, Africana Studies, CoAS
Alex Quistberg, Environmental & Occupational Health, Urban Health, Dornsife
Rachel Reynolds, Communication, CoAS
Cyndi Rickards, Criminology & Justice Studies, CoAS
Simone Schlichting-Artur, Global Studies, CoAS
Adrian Shieh, Biomedical Engineering, BIOMED
Charlotte Shreve, Pennoni Honors College
Rebecca Signore, McGonigal Academic Resource Center
Wei Song, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
Kara Spiller, BIOMED
Jeff Stanley, Screenwriting & Playwriting, Westphal
Clare Strange, Criminology & Justice Studies, CoAS
Karen Sullam, PhD '13, 2011-12 Fulbright to Switzerland
John Timlin, Communication, Culture & Media, CoAS
Nielufar Varjavand, Internal Medicine, CoM
Maria Volynsky, English & Philosophy, CoAS
Julia Wisniewski, Pennoni Honors College
To learn more about applying to Fulbright, please visit the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website or email fellowships@drexel.edu.