Fulbright selects 5 TU semifinalists, most in university history

By Rebecca Kirkman on March 9, 2022

Five Towson University students and recent alumni have been selected as semifinalists for the 2022–23 Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the most in TU history.

TU’s Fulbright candidates include two recent graduates and a current senior applying to the English teaching assistant (ETA) program and two alumni pursuing graduate study abroad.

“It is an accomplishment to have five semifinalists for the first time at TU, and we are rooting for the success of all our students,” says Mary Sajini Devadas, associate professor of chemistry and director of Competitive Fellowships and Awards. “This would not have been possible without the help of our vibrant faculty and staff who serve as Fulbright campus advisors and the leadership of Liz Shearer, director of study abroad, and Clare Muhoro, associate provost for academic affairs.”

TU has had 16 Fulbright awardees since 1968. Eleven TU students and recent graduates worked with the Office of Competitive Fellowships & Awards to apply during the 2022–23 application cycle.

Administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright Program provides competitive, merit-based grants for individually designed study/research projects abroad and ETA programs, which place grantees in schools overseas to supplement local English language instruction and provide a native speaker presence in the classrooms. 

The Fulbright experience builds on the opportunities offered through the Office of Study Abroad & Away. “Fulbrighters get to meet, work, live with and learn from the people of their host country allowing them to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things and the way they think,” says Shearer. “While Study Abroad & Away experiences allow students to broaden their global perspective during their time here at TU, the Fulbright program empowers individuals to continue on their path to becoming socially responsible, engaged citizens of the world.”

Finalists are chosen based on the candidate’s professional and academic record, language preparation, feasibility of their proposal and extent that the project will advance the Fulbright aim of promoting mutual understanding through engagement in the host community. 

“It is energizing to see the breadth of talent among our students,” adds Devadas, who worked with Claudia Jones for her finalist interview with the University of Bristol.

Fulbright finalists will be announced later this spring.

Get to know TU’s Fulbright semifinalists:

Marcus Banks ’20

Major: Psychology
Study Proposal: M.S. in Developmental Disorders | University of Nottingham, U.K.

Marcus Banks is pursuing a doctoral degree in counseling psychology at the University of North Dakota. Through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, he hopes to earn a master’s degree in developmental disorders at the University of Nottingham in the U.K.

“The opportunity to attend a top-tier UK research university and earn a degree in a challenging, international environment is important to me,” Banks says. “With my career goal to be a clinical forensic neuropsychologist, Nottingham checked every single box on my list that I felt would best assist me in reaching my goals.” 

Working with his adviser, Clare Muhoro, associate provost for academic affairs, has made him a better writer, storyteller, student and person, Banks says. “I would not have advanced to this stage of the process without her help, guidance and unwavering support. I am extremely humbled and have nothing but gratitude for what we have accomplished so far.”

Charlotte Brown ’22

Majors: International Studies and Political Science, Spanish minor
ETA Program: Spain

Honors College senior Charlotte Brown has always wanted to live abroad after graduation. She immigrated to the U.S. from the U.K. as a child, and most of her family still lives outside of the U.S. “When I turned 18, I went to Mexico for a month to teach English, and, since then, I have kept exploring more of Latin America as an English language teacher,” she says. 

A member of the TU–Baltimore County Public Schools Model UN program, Brown would continue that passion in the Madrid ETA placement. “I hope my experiences working directly with the Model UN program allow me to support and lead the Global Classrooms program in Madrid.” 

In addition to teaching secondary-school students through the English teaching assistantship, the grant includes an independent community service project. “My planned project would form an afterschool program for women's leadership development,” Brown says, inspired by her own experience in TU’s Women’s Leadership Collective. 

Claudia Jones ’14

Major: English
Study Proposal: M.A. in Black Humanities | University of Bristol, U.K.

Claudia Jones hopes to research educational gaming and virtual reality experiences while studying Black humanities at the University of Bristol. “Through this degree, I plan to research Black historical narratives within the realm of digital humanities and video game story development,” says Jones.

Lynn Tomlinson, Jones’ adviser and an associate professor in the Department of Electronic Media and Film, has been “a wealth of information and support throughout the process,” Jones says, providing “expert critiques on my application materials.” 

For other students interested in applying to competitive grants and awards, Jones recommends starting early. “Take a look at some of the grants right now and explore what path you would be interested in pursuing,” says Jones, who completed her Fulbright finalist interview on Feb. 28. 

Garrett Leatherman ’21

Major: Spanish
ETA Program: Italy

Fulbright semifinalist Garrett Leatherman, who was selected as an alternate in 2021, hopes to fulfill his dream to live abroad in Italy with a Fulbright. “The program’s competitiveness and prestige seemed like a worthwhile challenge,” Leatherman says. “I [it] enriches me personally, professionally and intellectually in the long term.” In addition to teaching, he hopes to engage with the local community through writing. “Learning to write has positively impacted me in many ways, and I want to do same for the Italian community [he would serve],” he says. 

During his undergraduate career, Leatherman studied in Dublin and Madrid and obtained a certification to teach English as a second language (TESOL). Adviser Katie Villamar, associate director of the Office of Study Abroad & Away, has supported Leatherman throughout the application process. “She has guided and inspired me to put my best foot forward,” he says, noting that the application was an opportunity to grow.

“It makes you think deeply about who you are and what you want in the future,” Leatherman says. “It also helps you in practical ways; most notably, it greatly improves your writing skills. The application process is an enriching experience in itself, so I can't imagine how enriching the actual experience is.”

Samuel Mejia ’20

Major: Psychology, Spanish minor
ETA Program: Spain

Samuel Mejia, who is Salvadoran, hopes to share the immersive language and cultural exchange he experienced studying at the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain. “Learning directly from Spaniards was a genuine, unobstructed transfer of culture and language, an experience I want to reciprocate for English learners in Spain,” says Mejia, a graduate of the Honors College. “Through the Fulbright grant, I wish to give back to a country whose people have greatly impacted my educational and personal journeys, simultaneously fulfilling Spain’s high demand for English teachers. 

While in Spain, Mejia hopes to launch a community engagement program focused on promoting mental health and American culture through a sports club. “I look forward to using my Fulbright experience in the future through promoting Spanish speakers' success in school or mental health counseling settings, investing in the mental, emotional and social development of my students or clients, recognizing the importance of cultivating life skills and interacting with them as real people.”

The Office of Competitive Fellowships & Awards supports Towson University students seeking to advance their educational and career goals through highly competitive fellowships and awards available nationally and globally. Faculty interested in nominating students for nationally competitive scholarships can do so here. For any questions regarding these fellowships and awards, contact Mary Sajini Devadas. 

For more information, follow the office on Instagram and Twitter.