June 15, 2021

We are pleased to announce that three Drexel students and recent alumni have been selected as recipients and two have been selected as alternates for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program for 2021-22. These students spent considerable time developing research or teaching proposals, crafting application essays, and incorporating feedback from supportive readers and we congratulate them for being recognized for their efforts.

2021 Fulbright Honorees

KerryLyn Kercher
MA Dance /Movement Therapy and Counseling '21
Fulbright Study/Research Grant to Germany

KerryLyn is originally from Allentown, PA where she began studying dance at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts. She received her Bachelors of Fine Arts from Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA. She has extensive experience in both professional dance performance and teaching, performing for multiple dance companies, including Lehrer Dance (Buffalo, NY), Motion X Dance (DC), JChen Projects (NYC), Christopher K. Morgan & Artists (DC), and S.J. Ewing & Dancers (DC). KerryLyn is a recent graduate (2021) from Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions with a Masters of Arts in dance/movement therapy and counseling. With a strong belief in the linkage of the mind and body, pursuing a career in dance/movement therapy felt in line with her desire to inspire and heal through movement.

Kathlyn Elliott
PhD student Educational Leadership
Fulbright Study/Research Grant to Finland
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kristy Kelly

Kathlyn Elliott is a PhD student in the School of Education, focused on educational leadership. She was a high school history teacher for 10 years before returning to school to earn her doctoral degree. Kathlyn's research is on preventing violent extremism through education in both the US and Finland. Her research would look at the implementation of the Finnish National Action Plan for the Prevention of Radicalization and Extremism, specifically the REDI model (Resilience, Democracy and Dialogue Against Violent Radicalization and Extremism in Educational Institutions) in both formal and informal education. Kathlyn would be working with the Growing Up Radical Project at the University of Helsinki, which designed the REDI model.

Parisa Khoshnood
BA Global Studies and Modern Languages '20
Fulbright Alternate: English Teaching Assistantship, Turkey

Parisa holds a B.A. in global studies & modern languages with a concentration in justice and human rights, as well as a French minor. She currently serves as the Education Program Administrator at HIAS Pennsylvania. In this role, Parisa supports school enrollment for newly arrived refugee youth, adult ESL, K-8, and high school programming, to provide a safe space for multilevel language learners using trauma-informed teaching strategies. As a prospective ETA in Turkey, she hopes to combine her interests in refugee education and English language learning while exploring all that Turkey has to offer. She would like to express her gratitude to her Fulbright advisor, Kelly Weissberger, for all of her encouragement and support!

Jorge Fortin-Mejia
BS Communication '19
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Argentina

Jorge is a recent graduate who majored in communication with a minor in writing. Throughout his professional career, he’s worked in different realms of communication — nonprofits, literary publications, and public broadcasting companies — to broaden his understanding of language. He also has a great fascination for literature, specifically for short fiction stories. As an undergraduate, Jorge participated in the Rittenhouse Writers’ Group and through this writing workshop, sharpened his writing skills and developed confidence as a storyteller. He hopes to bring this curiosity for language to his Argentinian students if awarded the Fulbright grant. Simultaneously, he looks forward to connecting deeply to the Argentinian identity, which was created by the amalgamation of various ethnicities and nationalities. He wishes to turn his love for literature, language, and culture into an academic career, where he will be able to encourage students to participate in global exchanges.

Jieying Chen
BS/MS Marketing and Elementary Education '20, Honors
Fulbright Alternate: English Teaching Assistantship, Taiwan

Jieying decided to apply to the ETA program because she wants to gain more experience and learn skills from other teachers. Teaching in Taiwan not only would provide her the opportunity to learn from other teachers, but to learn how to interact and educate students whose English is considered their second language in Asia. She believes that with her passion in teaching and experiences of both eastern and western cultures, she will be a good candidate for the ETA program in Taiwan. This experience would help her learn to be a better bridge between cultures and facilitate cross-cultural understanding.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards funding for one academic year of self-designed study, research, creative projects, or teaching English in over 140 countries around the world. 

For more information please visit the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website or email fellowships@drexel.edu! 

Special thanks to the Drexel faculty and staff members who worked with us during the summer and fall to advise individual applicants, review campus applications, and conduct preliminary review and campus interviews:

Stacy Ake, Co-Director, Certificate Program in Medical Humanities, Associate Teaching Professor of Philosophy

Bill Albertson, Instructor, English Language Center

Pete Amato, Director, Programs in Philosophy and Teaching Professor of Philosophy, Department of English and Philosophy

Ben Barnett, Instructor, English Language Center

Ellana Black, Academic Advisor, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Natalia Broz, Associate Director or Graduate Programs, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sciences, and Health Systems

Paula Marantz Cohen, Distinguished Professor of English and Dean of the Pennoni Honors College

Laura-Edythe Coleman, Assistant Teaching Professor, Arts & Entertainment Enterprise

Kimberly David-Chung, Assistant Vice President, Virtual Student Experience, Drexel Online

Lauren Davis, Program Manager, Academic Program, Pennoni Honors College

Casey Devine, Coordinator, Office of Global Engagement

Kevin Egan, Director of Academic Programs, Pennoni Honors College

Arthur Frank, Professor, Environmental and Occupational Health

Tasha Gardner, Director for the Center for Inclusive Education and Scholarship

Tali Gidalevitz, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences

Katie Gross, Director of Recruitment and Retention, Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Marcia Henisz, Senior Director of International Health, Safety, and Security, Office of Global Engagement

Cathy Hernandez, Adjunct Instructor, Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Tom Hindman, Academic Advisor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Barbara Hoekje, Associate Professor of Communication and Graduate Faculty Member, Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences

Brian Kantorek, Assistant Director of Marketing and Media, Pennoni Honors College

Emily Kashka-Ginsburg, Assistant Director, Undergraduate Research and Enrichment Programs, Pennoni Honors College

Kristy Kelly, Assistant Clinical Professor and Program Director of Global and International Education

Emmanuel Koku, Associate Professor of Sociology and Graduate Faculty Member, Communication, Culture & Media, Department of Sociology

Daniel Korschun, Associate Professor, Assistant Department Head, and Stephen Cozen Research Scholar in Marketing, LeBow College of Business

Roger Kurtz, Department Head and Professor, Department of English and Philosophy

Beth Leonberg, Associate Clinical Professor; Director, Dietetics Education Programs; Interim Vice-Chair, Nutrition Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions

Melinda Lewis, Associate Director of Marketing and Media, Pennoni Honors College

Brent Luvaas, Director of the Minor Program in Anthropology, Associate Professor, and Graduate Faculty Member; Center for Science, Technology and Society, Department of Global Studies and Modern Languages, College of Arts and Sciences

Maria Matus-Mendoza, Associate Professor of Spanish, Department of Global Studies and Modern Languages, College of Arts and Sciences

Kate McAloon, Advisor, Steinbright Career Development Center

Rachael McBride, Academic Advisor, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Janel McCloskey, Associate Director, University Writing Program(Drexel Writing Center)

Bernetta Millonde, Director, Diversity Initiatives & Community Relations, Undergraduate Admissions

Jaya Mohan, Director of Undergraduate Research and Enrichment Programs, Pennoni Honors College

Marna Mozeff, Managing Director & Faculty, Division for Exploring Students, Goodwin College of Professional Studies

Kristine Mulhorn, Chair, Health Administration Department and Teaching Professor, College of Nursing and Health Professions

VK Narayanan, Deloitte Touche Jones Stubbs Professor, Management, LeBow College of Business

Dagmar Niebur, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

Karen Nulton, Director, Writing Assessment and Teaching Professor of English, Department of English and Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences

Young-Min Park, Education Abroad Advisor, Office of Global Engagement

Abioseh Porter, Professor of English, Department of English and Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences

Florette Press, Senior Academic Adviser, College of Arts and Sciences

Gordon Richards, Professor, Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences

Greg Risser, Biomedical Engineering, PHD Doctoral Candidate, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems

Idris Robinson, Director of Global Health Programs and the Dornsife Global Development Scholars Program, Office of Global Engagement

Dorilona Rose, Director of Policy & External Affairs, Office of the Dean, College of Engineering

Andrew Sandefur, Education Abroad Advisor, Office of Global Engagement

Joe Santangelo, Senior Academic Advisor, Honors Program, Pennoni Honors College

Simone Schlichting-Artur, Teaching Professor of German, Global Studies and Modern Languages 

Adrian Shieh, Associate Teaching Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems

Denise Snow, Academic Advisor, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Suruchi Sood, Associate Professor, Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health

Jeff Stanley, Adjunct Professor, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Ashley Trump, Education Abroad Advisor, Office of Global Engagement

Marc Vallone, Associate Director of International Admissions

Loyc Vanderkluysen, Associate Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science, Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, College of Arts and Sciences

Nielufar Varjavand, Professor, Department of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine

Jin Wen, Professor, Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering

Rachel Wenrick, Director, Writers Room

Julia Wisniewski, Associate Director; Honors Program, Pennoni Honors College

Erica Zelinger, Director of Marketing and Media, Pennoni Honors College

Emily Zimmerman, Director of the Criminal Law Program and Professor of Law, Kline School of Law

Ian Zimmerman,Communication, Culture & Media, PHD Doctoral Candidate, College of Arts and Sciences