Middlebury Among Top Producers of Fulbrights
Middlebury College has been named to the Fulbright Top Producing Institutions list for the 16th consecutive year by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Program.
Seven students and two faculty members earned Fulbright awards, making the College one of only seven institutions that is a top producer of both Fulbright U.S. Students and Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the 2025–26 academic year.
“I’m thrilled to see so many Middlebury students and alumni apply for Fulbright grants to teach English, conduct research, and pursue graduate study,” said Lisa Gates, associate dean for fellowships. “It’s a tremendous opportunity and wonderful chance to immerse yourself in another country and culture—which aligns closely with Middlebury’s educational values. We are proud to be a strong supporter of the Fulbright program.”
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognized 114 institutions as Top Producers of the Fulbright U.S. Student and Fulbright U.S. Scholar Programs. Middlebury ranked among the top 21 baccalaureate-degree–granting institutions for Fulbright U.S. Students and among the top 65 colleges and universities overall. These honorees include members of the Class of 2025 who applied as graduating seniors, as well as alumni.
Maya Watson ’25 has been teaching English at Comrat State University, located in the capital of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia in the Republic of Moldova, where she also leads an English conversation club open to the broader community.
“I have really enjoyed getting to know my students and watching them become more comfortable speaking English in that environment,” said Watson, who also teaches introductory English courses—one for employees in the prosecutor’s office and another for members of the national guard. “This was initially intimidating, but I have been pleasantly surprised by how welcoming both groups have been.”
Samuel Hughes ’25 has been teaching English to high school students in Soroca, Moldova, for the past five months and has also participated in cultural events across the country in partnership with the U.S. Embassy. “Doing a Fulbright is an experience that teaches you things you wouldn’t learn anywhere else,” he said. “I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to immerse myself in another culture while representing ours abroad.”
The Fulbright program has produced 44 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 90 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, and other leaders focused on building strong connections between the United States and other countries.
The Following is a list of Middlebury’s 2024-2025 recipients:
Catherine Marie Sorokin ’25: Estonia
Julia Lininger-White ’25: Portugal
Kemal Gaye ’25: Taiwan
Maya Clare Watson ’25: Moldova
Michael James Feeney ’25: Italy
Samuel Alexander Hughes ’25: Moldova
Sydney Armor ’25: Austria
Fulbright U.S. Scholars: See also project descriptions:
Ajay Verghese, associate professor of political science: studying the local dynamics of political Hinduism in India.
William Waldron: professor of religion: studying the life and meaning of the Five Buddha Families in Nepal.