Eight 天美影视传媒 researchers have been selected as Fulbright Scholars for 2026-2027 and will pursue studies around the world.聽

Fulbright Scholars are college and university faculty, administrators and researchers, as well as artists and professionals, who build their skills and connections, gain valuable international insights and return home to share their experiences with their students and colleagues.

This year鈥檚 UW cohort represents a variety of disciplines, including sciences, engineering, business, environmental sciences, electrical and computer engineering, and computer science. The scholars will conduct research across the globe, including in Australia, India, Indonesia, Western Europe, Scandinavia and East Asia.

Two-thirds of this year鈥檚 UW applicants were selected as Fulbright Scholars 鈥� an astonishing acceptance rate in the prestigious and highly selective program.

鈥淲e are incredibly proud of these outstanding 天美影视传媒 faculty and staff whose selection as Fulbright Scholars reflects the excellence, innovation and global impact of their work,鈥� said UW Vice Provost for Global Affairs Ahmad M. Ezzeddine. 鈥淭he knowledge, partnerships and cultural understanding they gain through these experiences will enrich the UW and strengthen our shared commitment to addressing global challenges through collaboration and discovery. As the Fulbright Program celebrates its 80th anniversary, we are grateful for the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 continued investment in this transformative program.鈥澛�

The Fulbright Scholar Program for academics and professionals supports more than 800 people to teach and conduct research abroad.聽

This year鈥檚 UW Fulbright Scholars are:

is a professor in the Department of Biology in the College of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on how mutually beneficial interactions between species 鈥� such as how insects pollinating plants is beneficial to both 鈥� scale into networks involving multiple species, and how the structure of those networks affects ecosystems. For example, some ecological network structures, or how connections between species are arranged, make these networks more resilient to perturbations, such as droughts or climate change.

Brosi’s Fulbright Scholar award will be through Spain’s flagship public research institution, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient铆ficas, at the Do帽ana Biological Station in Seville. His work there will involve synthesizing and analyzing two comprehensive long-term datasets 鈥� one from his lab and one from his Spanish host lab 鈥� to better understand global patterns in pollination networks. In particular, scientists have recorded species that appear to be 鈥渟pecialists鈥� 鈥� such as a bee species that has only been recorded visiting one plant species聽 鈥� in many ecological networks, but, without long-term data, it鈥檚 difficult to disentangle whether they are really specialists or just rare. Brosi will tackle this problem in collaboration with his Fulbright host, Ignasi Bartomeus, at Do帽ana.聽聽

is the director of academic services in the Department of Bioengineering in the College of Engineering and UW Medicine. She supports the department鈥檚 doctoral students with a focus on improving the research experience, expanding opportunities and advancing access and collaboration.聽

While a Fulbright Scholar, she will develop a framework for a new doctoral biomedical research exchange between the UW and Tampere University in Finland. Combs will work with faculty, students and staff at both universities to lead the development of a preliminary structure of a doctoral research exchange, including eligibility criteria, mentorship plans and evaluation metrics. She will also explore funding sources for the program鈥檚 ongoing sustainability and draft a memorandum of understanding for the institutions to consider.

, an assistant professor of management and organization and the Helen Moore Gerhardt Faculty Fellow in Entrepreneurship in the Foster School of Business. Her areas of expertise include entrepreneurship, organizational growth and scaling, technology and innovation strategy, and venture capital. DeSantola teaches entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial strategy to undergraduates, master鈥檚 and doctoral students. She was named a Poets & Quants top 50 undergraduate business professor in 2021.聽

DeSantola will use her Fulbright award, during which she will be a visiting U.S. Scholar to University College Cork in Ireland, to study factors influencing innovation and entrepreneurship in novel food technologies. The project connects to a broader stream of DeSantola鈥檚 research exploring the emergence and evolution of new technology-based industries.

is聽 an interdisciplinary scientist in the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs in the College of the Environment. Her work focuses on how coastal communities adapt to climate change and other environmental and socioeconomic stressors, particularly within fisheries and aquaculture systems. During the past 15 years, she has worked with coastal populations, including Indigenous harvesters, to support food sovereignty and long-term approaches to adaptation and resilience.

Greene鈥檚 Fulbright award is to advance the inclusion of聽 fish and other aquatic foods 鈥斅� 鈥淏lue Foods鈥� 鈥� into Indonesia鈥檚 National School Lunch Program. The goal of this project is to improve nutritional outcomes for school-aged children while strengthening local food systems. Through working directly with fishers and fish suppliers, Green will work with the project team to identify the conditions necessary to provide Blue Foods that promote positive nutritional outcomes for children, support local fishers and sustain local ecosystems. This project is a pilot program for the initiative that will hopefully be expanded nationally.

is an associate professor in the Information School and also is part of the Responsibility in AI Systems and Experiences (RAISE) Center. An interdisciplinary scholar with expertise in human-centered AI, Mitra’s work draws on human-computer interaction, machine learning, natural language processing and social science to understand how people and AI interact in large-scale online systems. Her research examines the societal impacts of generative AI and develops methods to make AI systems more trustworthy, culturally aware and beneficial for diverse communities.

She will use her Fulbright award in India, where she will collaborate with researchers at the Centre for Machine Intelligence and Data Science (C-MInDS) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Bombay) 鈥� the nation鈥檚 topmost and most selective public research institution. She will investigate the risks and capabilities of generative AI systems across socio-cultural contexts most relevant to the Global South. The work aims to advance more culturally aware and responsible AI while strengthening research partnerships between the United States and India.

is an associate professor in the School of Oceanography in the College of the Environment. Morris鈥� research uses cultivation and whole-genome DNA sequencing to identify the roles of bacteria in global nutrient cycles. With a focus on carbon, nitrogen and sulfur, he has conducted studies that show the effects of low dissolved oxygen on the nutrient cycling activities of the ocean’s most abundant organisms.聽

During his time at in South Korea, Morris will pursue a project entitled, 鈥淗igh-throughput cultivation-based genomics of freshwater Chloroflexota.鈥� A key goal is to advance understanding of the evolution of this important group of bacteria and its potential to mediate key nutrient transformations.

is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering. She leads a neural engineering lab focused on motor brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs. Her work combines experiments with computational methods to develop new ways to build BCIs that interact with plasticity in the brain.

During her stay at the Champalimaud Institute Centre for Restorative Neurotechnology in Portugal, she will collaborate with two researchers, Dr. Juan 脕lvaro Gallego and Dr. John Krakauer. The new projects aim to improve our understanding of how plasticity shapes brain dynamics and apply new BCI algorithms for stroke rehabilitation.聽聽

is a professor in the Information School and an adjunct professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering in the College of Engineering. He is the founding director of the InfoSeeking Lab and founding co-director of RAISE, the Center for Responsibility in AI Systems & Experiences. His research focuses on agentic AI, human-centered information seeking and responsible AI, examining how intelligent systems can act on people’s behalf while remaining transparent, trustworthy and accountable. He is also the founder and CEO of VersarAI, a startup translating his research on AI agents into enterprise applications. His book, 鈥淎gent Nation,鈥� was published this year.聽

Shah will use his Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, to study how agentic AI can responsibly power entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems. Working with RMIT researchers and Australia’s startup community, he will investigate what he calls the Delegation Paradox: the tension between the efficiency gained by delegating tasks to AI agents and the oversight, trust and accountability that delegation demands. The work aims to produce frameworks that help founders, enterprises and policymakers adopt AI agents in ways that drive innovation without sacrificing human agency.

The Peace Corps announced Tuesday that the 天美影视传媒 is again since the international program launched in 1961.

For 2025, the UW placed No. 7 among universities with 15,000 or more enrolled undergraduates in total number of Peace Corps volunteers, according to the Peace Corps. In total, more than 3,175 UW graduates have gone on to service opportunities abroad as volunteers.

The UW is proud to prepare students to engage meaningfully with the world, said Ahmad Ezzeddine, UW vice provost for global affairs.聽

鈥淭he Peace Corps remains one of our nation’s most effective avenues for citizen diplomacy, and we are grateful for its long history of strengthening communities around the globe,鈥� Ezzeddine said.

Volunteers in the Peace Corps work side by side with communities to help to address real needs through agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health and youth in development projects, Peace Corps acting Director Richard E. Swarttz said.聽

鈥淪ixty-five years after our founding, the Peace Corps is still going strong,鈥� he said.

According to the Peace Corps, 38 UW alumni served in 26 countries around the world during the past fiscal year, including Albania, Montenegro, Armenia, Cameroon, Colombia, countries in the Eastern Caribbean, Ecuador, Fiji, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Vanuatu and Zambia.

To better reflect the combined contributions of volunteers who serve traditional 27-month assignments and Peace Corps Response volunteers who serve for 6-12 months, the Peace Corps counted alumni volunteers who served at any point during the 2025 fiscal year for the 2026 rankings. Previously, colleges and universities were ranked on a one-day annual headcount of volunteers on Sept. 30, the last day of the fiscal year.聽

More than 250,000 Americans have served in the Peace Corps around the world since President John F. Kennedy initiated the program in 1961.

Learn more about .

Four 天美影视传媒 researchers have been selected as Fulbright Scholars for 2025-2026 and will pursue studies in Spain, Taiwan, Poland and Japan.

The scholars are , a clinical associate professor in the Department of Environment & Occupational Health Sciences; , a professor in the School of Pharmacy; , an associate professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at UW Tacoma; and , an assistant teaching professor in the College of the Environment.

Fulbright Scholars are college and university faculty, administrators, and researchers, as well as artists and professionals, who build their skills and connections, gain valuable international insights and return home to share their experiences with their students and colleagues.

鈥淭hese four Fulbright awards are yet another example of UW鈥檚 global reach and scholarly impact,鈥� said Ahmad Ezzeddine, UW vice provost for Global Affairs. 鈥淭he Fulbright program remains the flagship international educational exchange program, fostering academic collaboration and cross-cultural understanding for nearly eight decades.

鈥淲e are grateful for the State Department鈥檚 continued investment in this transformative program, which serves as one of our nation鈥檚 most powerful tools of citizen diplomacy,鈥� Ezzeddine continued. 鈥淭hrough these prestigious fellowships, our faculty will advance research and teaching on the global stage, while serving as ambassadors of American higher education and building bridges with communities worldwide.鈥�

The Fulbright Scholar Program for academics and professionals supports more than 800 people to teach and conduct research abroad. In February, the UW was recognized as a 2024-25 鈥淭op Producer鈥� of both Fulbright scholars and students.

The UW Fulbright Scholar selectees for 2025-26 are:

Donatuto, a clinical associate professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences in the UW School of Public Health. She is also part of the An environmental social scientist, Donatuto has worked with communities, particularly Coast Salish Indigenous communities, for more than two decades.

She will use her Fulbright award in Spain, where she will work with the (CSIC), the nation鈥檚 largest public research institution, to implement a comparative analysis of human-ocean engagement in the northeast Pacific and northwest Mediterranean coast regions. The research will fill in a data gap identified by the 聽鈥� a lack of data describing the human-ocean connection.

Gray is a professor in the Department of Pharmacy and the Plein Endowed Director of the Plein Center for Aging in the School of Pharmacy. Her research uses pharmacoepidemiology and health services research to optimize medication use in older adults. With a focus on medication safety, she has conducted studies showing an association between high-risk common medications and fall injuries, dementia and physical performance in older adults.

Gray will be hosted by the in the College of Pharmacy. She will pursue a project entitled, 鈥淎dverse drug effects of medication use on sedentary time and physical activity in older adults.鈥�

Kula is an associate professor of creative writing in the Department of Culture, Arts, and Communications at UW Tacoma. He teaches courses in fiction and advanced fiction writing and regularly teaches a special topics class in playwriting. In collaboration with other faculty, he is developing a wider set of interdisciplinary writing courses in areas like historical fiction, fantasy/science fiction, ecopoetry and nature writing.

He was selected to serve as Fulbright Writer-in-Residence at in Pozna艅, Poland.聽 While there, in addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in AMU鈥檚 Center for the Affirmation of Literature, he will be completing final research and revisions for his book, 鈥淭he Long Alone,鈥� a creative nonfiction account of the travels of Kazimierz Nowak, an amateur Polish journalist who bicycled alone across Africa in the 1930s.

Weng is an assistant teaching professor in the Program on the Environment and the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. As a geographer, Weng鈥檚 work explores the dynamic relationships between human societies and the environment. She is also an affiliate faculty member with the Taiwan Studies Program.

She was awarded the Fulbright Teaching Award to teach courses in geography, sustainability, environmental literature and global environmental politics at and in Tokyo. Through her Fulbright project, Weng will share the American experience in environmental conservation, movements, and governance with students and scholars in Japan and to foster opportunities for mutual learning and advancement in these areas.

Seven UW students and recent alumni were awarded聽聽scholarships for the 2025鈥�2026 academic year, joining about 2,000 students and recent graduates from around the country to pursue graduate study, conduct research and teach English abroad.

The Fulbright scholarship program is the largest U.S. international exchange opportunity for students to pursue graduate study, advanced research and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.

鈥淭hese Fulbright awards reflect the exceptional caliber of our students and underscore the University鈥檚 commitment to fostering global citizens and scholars,鈥� said UW Vice Provost for Global Affairs Ahmad Ezzeddine. 鈥滱s the nation鈥檚 flagship international exchange program, Fulbright offers transformative opportunities for the next generation of leaders to engage meaningfully with the world.

鈥淲e are deeply grateful for the State Department鈥檚 continued investment in this vital initiative 鈥� one of our nation鈥檚 most effective tools of citizen diplomacy,鈥� Ezzeddine continued. 鈥淭hrough these prestigious fellowships, our students will pursue meaningful research, service and study abroad. They鈥檒l also represent the best of American higher education while building lasting connections that will benefit both our University and our country for years to come.鈥�

Among this year鈥檚 recipients are four UW undergraduate students or recent alumni. They plan travel to Europe, Central Asia and Mexico to take part in graduate study, research and teaching assistantships. Three graduate-level students plan to travel to Scandinavia, Southeast Asia and South America. This year鈥檚 finalists attended all three UW campuses.

The UW also had two students 鈥� one undergraduate and one graduate level 鈥� selected as alternates.

This year鈥檚聽聽awardees are:

• Annabella Li: Study and research, Germany
• Sabrina Prestes Oliveira: English teaching award, Mexico
• Jack Regala: English teaching award, Tajikistan
• Elana Skeers: Trinity Laban Award in Music & Dance, United Kingdom

This year鈥檚 awardees are:

• Emily Bassett: English teaching award, Norway
• Vincent Flores Da: Study and research, Philippines
• Thomas Key: Study and research, Brazil

Oliveira completed her undergraduate studies at UW Bothell and Da completed his undergraduate degree at UW Tacoma. The rest of the cohort received degrees for work on UW鈥檚 Seattle campus.

For the past several years, The Chronicle of Higher Education has ranked the UW a 鈥�Top Producer鈥� of student awardees. The Fulbright program, funded by the U.S. Department of State, provides round-trip travel, health insurance, a housing stipend and visa assistance to awardees.

Read more about this year鈥檚 UW Fulbright Student Program Finalists and the projects they will pursue abroad at the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards and the Graduate School鈥檚 .