Class of 2025 members Katie Durow, Lillian Belzer, and Roma Sarathi, as well as Dana Caldwell '22, have all been selected for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.
Belzer will conduct research in Siena, Italy. Caldwell's research will be in Finland.
Durow will participate in the U.S. Teaching Assistantship (USTA) Program in Austria. Sarathi will teach English in South Korea through the English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program.
Â鶹AV has been recognized as one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of students selected for theFulbright U.S. Student Program.
More on the Fulbright recipients from the Class of 2025
Katie Durow
Durow was a double major in International Studies and German
Hometown: Glenview, Ill.
Fulbright grant and location: USTA / Spittal an der Drau, Austria
"As a teaching assistant in Austria, I am eager to bring my background in creating inclusive spaces to my classroom, which will reflect the cooperative, passionate atmosphere I found at Â鶹AV. My teaching philosophy centers on fostering a welcoming environment where students feel safe to express their identities and ideas. I aim not only to teach English but also to encourage discussions that incorporate themes of social justice, sustainability, and cultural awareness. By empowering students to connect language learning with their lived experiences, I hope to inspire them to think critically and creatively. Following the USTA program, I plan to pursue a career in sustainability education. I intend to integrate the lessons I will learn in Austria, particularly in fostering inclusive, globally aware, and environmentally conscious learning environments, into teaching and advocacy efforts. The USTA program offers a unique opportunity to engage in this mission alongside Austrian students and communities, and I am eager to contribute my skills while learning from this experience."
Lillian Belzer
Belzer was a double major in Neuroscience and Transnational Italian Studies
Hometown: Savannah, Ga.
Fulbright grant and location: Research / Siena, Italy
'I am beyond excited to experience my two passions melding into one! I am looking forward to understanding how medicine and scientific research in Italy is both similar and different from that in the US. I am also grateful that I will get the opportunity to view one of my favorite cities in the world from a new perspective by actively engaging with the community and workforce. Finally, I am eager to begin studying Parkinson’s disease in a country that is leading in neurodegenerative disease research, allowing me to gain first-hand experience with meaningful and clinical breakthroughs."
Roma Sarathi
Sarathi was a linguistics major with minors in Spanish and education.
Hometown: Newark, Del.
Fulbright grant and location: ETA / South Korea
"I'm excited to eat some great food, make connections with inspiring coworkers, and get better at working with students, especially because this is my first time teaching English in a classroom. I'm also really interested in learning about the history and architecture/art of an area, so I'm excited to see some of the historical sites throughout the country!"