Two prestigious U.S. Department of State programs are opening doors for Occidental students to conduct research, pursue graduate study, teach English, and gain international experience around the world.
This year’s Fulbright and Gilman recipients reflect Occidental’s commitment to preparing students for lives of inquiry, service, and global engagement.
The Fulbright program grants two primary awards: the open study/research awards, which support projects proposed in specific countries, and the English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Awards, which place grantees in overseas schools to supplement local English language instruction. Isabel Friedl ’25, Elizabeth (Eliza) Hawley ’26, and Vivian Ko ’26 were named awardees this year, while Noa Carlson ’22, Evan Caulfield ’26, Day Rhizal ’26 were named alternates.
Isabel Friedl ’25, an economics major, received a Fulbright award to conduct research in Indonesia. There she plans to build off of her Critical Language Scholarship and Projects for Peace experiences by investigating the rise of thematic villages in Indonesia as sites of preserved and reimagined cultural and religious identity.
Elizabeth (Eliza) Hawley ’26, a sociology major, received a Fulbright ETA to teach in Spain in preparation for a career in international educational policy. While in the country, she plans to join a local running club to help learn and share cultural perspectives.
Vivian Ko ’26, a critical theory and social justice major, received a Fulbright ETA to teach in Taiwan, after which she plans to get her teaching credential in the U.S. and become a public school teacher. In Taiwan, she plans to attend community events and explore local tea culture.
Additionally, the following Oxy students and alumni were named Fulbright alternates:
Noa Carlson ’22, a biology and theater double major, was named an alternate for a UK study award.
Evan Caulfield ’26, an urban and environmental policy major, was named an alternate for an ETA to France.
Day Rhizal ’26, a comparative studies in literature and culture and a critical theory and social justice double major, was named an alternate for an ETA to Colombia.
Additionally, seven Occidental students received Gilman Scholarships, the highest number of recipients in at least eight years. The Gilman program allows outstanding American undergraduate students with high financial need to pursue academic studies and career-oriented internships abroad. These opportunities equip Gilman Scholars with important international experience, global networks, and foreign language skills.
Talia Goddard ’27, an urban and environmental policy major, used her Gilman Scholarship to study abroad in Austria in Spring 2026.
Nyasha Griffin ’27, a diplomacy and world affairs major, will study abroad in Spain in Summer 2026.
Aurelia Mendez Ortega ’28, a computer science major, will study abroad in South Korea in Summer 2026.
Aoife Mokalla ’28, a sociology major, will study abroad in Peru in Spring 2027.
Adebajo-Wuraola (Wura) Ogunnaike ’27, a double major in economics and diplomacy and world affairs, studied abroad at the University of Bristol in Spring 2026.
Leslie Peña ’27, a psychology major, plans to pursue an internship as a data analyst, business analyst, and go-to-market strategist in South Korea in Summer 2026.
Andrea Ibarra ’28, a critical theory and social justice major, was also offered a Gilman Scholarship for Spring 2027, but declined.
