Eleven Middlebury Students Earn Fulbright Awards

Eleven Middlebury College students and recent graduates have received Fulbright Student Awards for the 2026–2027 academic year. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the highly selective fellowships support a year of international cultural exchange. The group includes eight English teaching assistantships and three study/research awards.

“We are incredibly proud of these students and recent graduates who are pursuing a diverse array of pathways to better global understanding,” said Ian Baucom. “Middlebury has been a top producer of Fulbright students for many years, and I am thrilled to see this year’s group continuing that essential work, in alignment with our mission and commitment to engaging with the world.”

Following are the Middlebury students and alumni who have received Fulbright Awards for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Celeste Alden ’25.5, a Spanish and earth and climate sciences major, will be a Fulbright English teaching assistant in Mexico. “Living and studying in Chile over the past three years strengthened my interest in connecting Latin American and U.S. pedagogies,” wrote Alden in her Fulbright proposal.

“My teaching style fosters intercultural dialogue while valuing both Western and Indigenous knowledge systems. Mexico’s educational tradition and the presence of unique institutions such as the Universidades Interculturales align with my teaching approach and the experience I hope to gain working with bilingual students in multicultural environments.”

Celia Barabanov ’26, an international and global studies and history major, has received an English teaching assistantship for Mexico. She says growing up among Russian immigrants prepared her to navigate cultural differences with curiosity, respect, and humor—all qualities that will be helpful as an ETA.

“My love for teaching has grown over years of experience with kids and adults,” wrote Barabanov. “In rural Vermont and the D.C. area, I have taught English to immigrants, adapting with patience and flexibility to maintain student motivation and progress. By identifying shared interests and applying lessons to real life, I aim to foster genuine connection and effective learning.”

Zane Barnwell ’26, an international politics and economics and Arabic major, has been awarded an English teaching assistantship for Morocco. He is particularly interested in deepening cross-cultural understanding in Arabic-speaking contexts.

“I am drawn to Morocco’s multilingual landscape, where Arabic, French, and Tamazight dialects shape students’ educational experiences,” wrote Barnwell. “During a Critical Language Scholarship in Meknes, I witnessed how language learning fosters not only academic development but also cultural confidence—especially in rural and Amazigh communities.”

Nora Brown ’24, who graduated from Middlebury with a degree in geography, has been awarded a study/research fellowship for Germany. She plans to use her Fulbright grant to pursue a Master of Science in Urban Design at the Technical University of Berlin. She believes the program will boost her career plans as an urban planner or designer.

“In order to create cities that serve all their residents, urban planning and design professionals must be well versed in interdisciplinary collaboration,” wrote Brown. “A project-based education like the one offered by this program, reaching across disciplines, is the first step toward meeting my career aspirations.”

Brooke Dolan ’26, a neuroscience major, has been awarded an English teaching assistantship for Spain. Dolan is interested in working in La Rioja or Asturias, or possibly returning to Madrid, where she studied abroad, to strengthen her teaching skills and engage more deeply with Spanish culture.

“A Fulbright grant offers a unique opportunity to combine my passion for language, cultural exchange, and education in a meaningful way,” she wrote. “Learning Spanish has positively shaped my worldview, and I hope to offer children the same experience by helping them connect with English through creative, student-centered learning. I am particularly drawn to Spain’s regional diversity, and each of my preferred locations offers a unique cultural context where I can grow as both a teacher and cultural ambassador.”

Ignacio Gamero ’26, a political science major, will enter the Binational Business Program in Mexico on a study/research award at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM).

“Mexico is now the U.S.’s largest trading partner, and this partnership is entering its most consequential era—one that demands careful management to ensure sustainable growth and regional stability,” wrote Gamero. “Pursuing this program will prepare me for a career in international commerce law, advising firms on high-value cross-border transactions and sustaining the relationships that drive U.S. economic growth.”

Anna Krouse ’25.5, a statistics and earth and climate sciences major, has received an English teaching assistantship for the Czech Republic. At Middlebury, Krouse worked as both a teaching assistant for earth and climate sciences and as a research assistant studying K–12 teacher satisfaction across the United States. As she considers a career as a high school teacher, she is looking forward to bringing her experience and love of teaching to a new setting.

“I’m excited to bring collaborative, student-centered approaches to Czech classrooms, where I can learn from a different pedagogical tradition while helping students build confidence in English,” Krouse wrote.

Oliver Loeser ’26, a political science major, was awarded a study/research grant for Serbia. He will study at the University of Belgrade, where he hopes to gain an understanding of how Serbian security officials form policy and how EU policy influences them.

“I have chosen to research at the University of Belgrade because it hosts the leading political science institution in Serbia and has the greatest access to Serbian policymakers,” Loeser wrote. “As someone who has studied in the region before and has fallen in love with its people and culture, I want to do my part to bridge gaps in understanding to create peace through diplomacy. The project will also contribute to my career goals in American foreign policy, where I can apply valuable regional expertise on an underanalyzed region of Europe.”

Laura McDow ’26, an international and global studies major, has received an English teaching assistantship for Germany. At Middlebury, McDow was a German tutor, an experience that helped her share her love of languages with others. She studied abroad in Berlin and has long been drawn to Germany.

“A Fulbright grant will deepen my understanding of, and connection to, German culture,” wrote McDow. “This experience will also prepare me for a career in foreign service, further my lifelong interest in languages, and expand connections between Germany and the United States.”

Ana Damaris Neaves ’24, a Spanish and Portuguese major, has received an English teaching assistantship for Mexico. With experience teaching English already under her belt, she is looking forward to sharing her skills in Mexico and deepening her understanding of a culture that is important to her.

“Working and living in Mexico will position me to experience this country in its fullness and sincerity to become not only a more compassionate and seasoned language educator but also a more nuanced bilingual and bicultural American,” Neaves wrote. “Through this award, I can honor my heritage while advancing my professional commitment to honest, cross-cultural language education.”

William Reed ’23.5, an English major, will pursue an English teaching assistantship in Greece. Reed, who plans to pursue a master’s degree when he returns to the United States, is looking forward to applying his teaching experience and instincts in a completely new environment.

“My undergraduate studies in English literature reinforced my belief in the power of teaching to build understanding across cultures,” wrote Reed. “I feel a strong connection to Greece through my lifelong study of its history and mythology, and I am fascinated by the enduring influence of Greek stories around the world.”

Five Middlebury students were named alternates for Fulbright Awards:

• Cleo Baldoumas ’24.5, a biology major, for study/research in Greece
• Rebecca Dorian ’26, a philosophy major, for an English teaching assistantship in Spain
• Victoria Fawcett ’26, a molecular biology and biochemistry major, for a study/research award in Spain
• Diana Lobo Alvarado ’26, an independent scholar and Spanish major, for an English teaching assistantship in Honduras
• Nikki Sadat ’23.5, an international and global studies major, for an English teaching assistantship in Spain