(Corvallis, OR, February 27, 2026) Oregon State University’s National and Global Scholarships Advising office is pleased to announce that ten students and recent graduates have been named semi-finalists for the 2026-2027 Fulbright U.S. Student Program by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Final selection of US Student Fulbright awards will be confirmed in spring 2026.
Ava Cordle graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences from OSU-Cascades. If selected for a Fulbright, Ava will attend Cardiff University in the United Kingdom for a master’s degree in Water, Climate Change, and Sustainability. Ava hopes to investigate the social context of water problems and how climate change is affecting existing water issues. Specifically, Ava proposes to complete a dissertation where she investigates the impacts of droughts and flooding on water resources in collaboration with Cardiff University’s Water Research Institute. Ava hopes to bring her knowledge back to Oregon where she will work in the future in the field of water conservation management.
Teaghan Knox will graduate in 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Climate Science and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. For her Fulbright, Teaghan proposes to travel to Kyrgyzstan to study glacier melt in the Tian Shan mountains, the “water towers” of Central Asia. Working in collaboration with the Central-Asian Institute for Applied Geosciences (CAIAG) and the University of Central Asia, Teaghan hopes to examine how the retreat of glaciers affects snowpack timing and duration in alpine basins and the impact on downstream water users. Teaghan hopes that her research will improve future forecasts of river flow and support water resource planning in Central Asia. Upon completion of her potential Fulbright, Teaghan will go on to have a career in researching water resources for mountain communities.
Camryn Lau will graduate in 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and certificate in Gerontology. If selected for a Fulbright, Camryn will take a position as an English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan, where she will hone her language skills in Mandarin and gain teaching experience to hone her cultural competency and communication skills for her future career as a family physician. Camryn is excited to broaden her language skills so that she can truly build connections in her host country and foster relationships for years to come. She also is excited to bring her love for food and nutrition to the classroom and connect with Taiwanese youth through food.
Kera Nelson graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Design and Innovation Management and a minor in French and Applied Journalism. For her Fulbright, she proposes to serve as an English Teaching Assistant in France, returning after a study abroad experience in the country to expand on her language and communication skills. A long-time student of French, Kera looks forward to learning even more from diverse French communities, increasing her language and cultural understanding while at the same time sharing her perspectives with her French students. In the future, Kera hopes to pursue a career in nonprofit work related to human rights, especially in support of low-income or refugee populations. She hopes her year teaching in France will further give her opportunities to increase her cultural communication skills and knowledge.
Anna Peeters-Weem will graduate in 2026 with an Honors Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and Environmental Sciences. If selected for a Fulbright, Anna will travel to Denmark, where she will complete a research project investigating the effects of Arctic ice melt. In collaboration with Dr. Marianne Glasius at Aarhus University, she proposes to study the little-studied impacts of ice melt on the creation of aerosols in the Arctic, where the climate is warming at three times the global rate. She hopes to gather data on organic matter-impacted seawater and sea-spray to determine their chemical composition. From this, she will analyze how organic matter interacts with microbes in the Arctic and what effects melting may have on the climate system. In the future, Anna hopes to pursue a PhD degree in environmental engineering focusing on the movement of anthropogenic pollutants through environmental systems, remediation, and policy.
Eliza Porter graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and minors in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences and Indigenous Studies. For her proposed Fulbright, Eliza hopes to travel to Argentina to investigate the distribution of juvenile Chinook salmon and coho salmon in two separate basins. She will conduct snorkel surveys to determine the distribution of each juvenile species in her target regions as well as the presence of native and introduced species. Her research will serve as essential information to sustain recreational fisheries in the basin and inform fisheries management. In the future, Eliza hopes to become a university professor with strengths in research, mentorship, and community.
Metzin Rodriguez graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Bioresource Research and a minor in Spanish. For her proposed Fulbright, Metzin seeks to complete a graduate degree with the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom in International Development. Metzin seeks to investigate the UK’s approach to climate resilience and emergency preparedness. She is inspired by Sheffield’s advances in local government resilience initiatives, and will complete her degree with the support of Professor Dorothea Kleine, Director of the Institute for Global Sustainable Development. Metzin’s research will investigate how community resilience hubs contribute to communities’ preparedness for and response to emergency risks. In the future, Metzin hopes to create accessible, effective emergency preparedness policies for frontline communities in Oregon. She aspires to become a political advisor on policy, climate resilience, and foreign relations.
3 additional semifinalists wished to remain anonymous.
In 2026-2027, more than 1,800 U.S. citizens will study, conduct research, and teach abroad for the academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected in an open, merit-based competition that considers leadership potential, academic and/or professional achievement, and record of service. As Fulbright alumni, their careers are enriched by joining a network of thousands of esteemed scholars, many of whom are leaders in their fields. Fulbright alumni include 60 Nobel Prize laureates, 88 Pulitzer Prize recipients, and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to forge lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, counter misunderstandings, and help people and nations work together toward common goals. Since its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has enabled more than 390,000 dedicated and accomplished students, scholars, artists, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and find solutions to shared international concerns. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in more than 160 countries worldwide. For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit the Fulbright program's website or contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office by telephone 202-632-6452 or e-mail [email protected].
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is administered at Oregon State University through OSU National and Global Scholarships Advising office. For more information about applying for Fulbright or other national and international scholarships and fellowships, please contact Director LeAnn Adam at [email protected] and visit our homepage.