We are thrilled to announce that four Drexel students and recent alumni were awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants for 2026-27 and three were selected as alternates. Fulbright grants support one year of graduate study, research, creative projects, or teaching English worldwide. Drexel's recipients will be heading to Kazakhstan, Canada, Indonesia, and Austria. We look forward to following their adventures abroad!
Alessandra Cabrera, BS materials science & engineering '26
English Teaching Assistant to Kazakhstan
Alessandra will be graduating with 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 was selected as the 2026 College of Engineering Undergraduate Commencement Speaker. Alessandra has been affiliated with the Pennoni Honors College as a STAR Scholar, Velay Fellow, Aspire Scholar, and UREP Mini-Grant recipient. Outside of academics, she has a passion for filmography, hot yoga, and enjoying beautiful natural sceneries. She is thrilled to bring all of these diverse experiences into her work as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Kazakhstan for the 2026-27 award cycle.
Maven Mercado, BS environmental science '26
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 will fund the first year of a master's degree in oceanography. 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
Alternate for English Teaching Assistantship to Cameroon
Becca Newman is a graduate of Drexel University's Pennoni Honors College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies with a concentration in global justice and human rights, and minors in French and fine arts.
Her senior capstone, developed under the guidance of Professor Joel Oestreich and recognized with the 2025 Global Studies Capstone Award, examined French language diplomacy as soft power through a multimedia website (beccagoesglobal.com/capstone). It traces how language and identity operate as tools of influence from France's revolutionary ideals to its post-colonial influence today. She deepened that perspective during an exchange semester at Sciences Po in Menton, France.
Professionally, Becca has served as a Public Information Intern at the United Nations Department of Global Communications, working within the Outreach Division under its director. She drafts high-level remarks for senior officials, develops strategic communications around major commemorative events, produces multimedia content in collaboration with the UN News and Media team, and supports UN Academic Impact's work connecting universities and research institutions to the Sustainable Development Goals. She previously worked as Co-Chief Visual Editor and journalist at The Triangle, Drexel's independent student newspaper, completed her co-op as an Associate Copywriter at Digitas Health, and held communications and legal support roles at Reger Rizzo & Darnall LLP. As a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Alternate for an English Teaching Assistantship in Cameroon, she continues to explore the role of language and education in cross-cultural exchange.
Katelynn Rudolph, BS psychology '24
Alternate for Study/Research Grant to the Netherlands
Katelynn graduated magna cum laude in Spring 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in neuroscience. Since her first research experience as a STAR Scholar with Dr. Chrysikou, Katelynn has been dedicated to pursuing a career as a clinical researcher. She completed her co-op at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, where she worked in the Early Detection & Intervention Core and conducted independent research under Dr. Wieckowski and Dr. Vivanti. Katelynn joined the Penn Memory Center as a clinical research coordinator for the CLARiTI study in November of 2024. Her interests include neuropsychology, neuroimaging, and dementia research.
Matthew Soesanto, BS biological sciences '26
Study/Research Grant to Indonesia
Matthew is a 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 Lab and Gould Lab at Temple University. His Fulbright 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, Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant Recipient, and Gilman Scholar.
This announcement does not include two honorees who declined publicity.
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.