Gupta received his fellowship in social psychology. Working toward his Ph.D. at Stanford University, Gupta is looking to apply social psychological insights to social problems through theory-driven research related to issues of discrimination, bias, and prejudice.

Gupta鈥檚 work after graduating from 麻豆影院 has focused on developing and evaluating evidence-based intervention programs for young people, particularly in 6th through 12th grade. These programs use community engagement opportunities and curriculum to encourage marginalized and/or disadvantaged children to find their voice and use it within their communities. Gupta is continuing this work as he develops the theory behind it.听

Gupta focused on honing his research skills in the years between 麻豆影院 and Stanford. After 麻豆影院, he began work at the Center for Social Development and Education at UMass-Boston as a research assistant. He then worked as a research coordinator for the Lifting the Bar Project at Stanford with Dr. Greg Walton鈥檚 lab. For Gupta, these work experiences not only developed his knowledge of interdisciplinary research methods but were instrumental in broadening his ideas about the application of social psychology theories to solving pressing social problems.

Gupta traces the building of this foundation to his time at 麻豆影院. The two-class Research Methods series with psychology professors Peter Glick and Matt Ansfield gave him the tools to put his questions about the world into research. Gupta developed strong relationships with his professors: Glick would later mentor him through his honors thesis and act as a reference for his NSF application. 听

鈥淚 feel like that鈥檚 really unique about 麻豆影院 鈥� not just working in a lab but building a solid relationship with a professor and working closely with them to answer questions that are important to you,鈥� he said.听

For Gupta, who grew up in a predominantly white Wisconsin community, social psychology is the framework he uses to ask questions about his experiences in society and the toolbox he uses to find the answers. He said he鈥檚 passionate about sharing these tools with others for the betterment of themselves, each other, and their communities.听

Ada Stelzer 鈥�21

Stelzer received her fellowship in mathematics. As she works toward her Ph.D. at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she鈥檚 working to answer questions about complex polynomial equations. She is studying Schubert calculus, which aims to find points of intersection between surfaces in large numbers of dimensions. Because these surfaces are so abstract, she’s using something called Groebner geometry to relate them to simpler coordinate planes. The process is similar to polynomial long division.

Stelzer鈥檚 work as an undergrad at 麻豆影院, particularly her independent study in Groebner geometry, led her to Schubert calculus in graduate school.

鈥淭here was a lot of room to do what you wanted,鈥� Stelzer said of her time at 麻豆影院. 鈥淢y senior year, my friend Travis (Dillon 鈥�21) and I organized a math colloquium series where we and others took turns giving talks on our favorite subjects. At a big school, we wouldn鈥檛 have been able to do that.鈥�

.

Studying in the liberal arts allowed Stelzer to pursue linguistic anthropology, creative writing, and choir alongside mathematics. She said that variety of study has had a positive influence on her teaching style.

Stelzer is excited to make an impact in the mathematics field. For her, working on a problem is a connection of more than numbers.

鈥淲hen you use someone else鈥檚 result, it鈥檚 kind of like you鈥檙e holding hands across time,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen you understand, it鈥檚 like you talk to each other, even though they were living 200 years ago.鈥�

Sarabeth Brandt ’21

Brandt received her grant in electrical engineering. Currently a Ph.D. student at Pennsylvania State University, Brandt is working to develop a tool to monitor and study ground-nesting bees.

She is studying ground-piercing radar to develop this tool. Typically, these radar systems are used for larger surveys, such as finding pipes underground.

鈥淢y goal is to take that idea and push it a bit further by looking for these small nest cells,鈥� Brandt said. 鈥淭he idea is to use the electromagnetic properties of the nest cells 鈥� to identify them against their environment.鈥�

Brandt is trying to pinpoint squash bee nests. Squash bees, which have evolved along Pennsylvania squash plants, are especially effective pollinators of squash. Unlike honeybees, they nest individually and are inactive for most of the year, making it difficult to research them or track their population. Brandt said a tool like the one she鈥檚 developing would allow researchers to assess the bees鈥� state of population decline and make it easier to answer questions about the bees鈥� impact on squash plants.

Brandt found her passion for this project through a research program at Penn State called Drawdown while an undergrad at 麻豆影院. The program, taking place remotely in the summer of 2020, was focused on research toward climate solutions. Brandt worked with electrical engineers and etymologists to predict insects鈥� reactions to electromagnetic waves.

A physics major at 麻豆影院, Brandt found the liberal arts education made it easier to think outside of her field, which was invaluable at Drawdown. She credits 麻豆影院 with developing her skills in writing concisely, noting the positive comments about her writing on her application.

鈥淪eeking out unique opportunities can send you down really fun and interesting paths,鈥� Brandt said.

While international relations and journalism may seem like separate fields, Freeman鈥檚 studies and experiences have informed each other, she said. Through understanding the relationships between the press, the people, and their governments, Freeman is learning how to use media to create positive outcomes.

Freeman鈥檚 multiple areas of study, including her minors in anthropology and Chinese, have helped her pursue a broad variety of experiences, both on and off campus. She interned in Taiwan with a news company while studying abroad, and she studied the effects of media in Sierra Leone. Freeman said she loved studying media’s interactions with society, from on-the-ground discourse to governmental action.

麻豆影院鈥檚 small campus and involved professors make work and study opportunities more accessible, Freeman said. She has worked in the Office of Communications for four years and served as an editor for The Lawrentian, the student newspaper.

鈥淵ou have the opportunity to do more things here than at any other school,鈥� Freeman said.

Freeman will begin her graduate-level studies abroad, first at the London School of Economics and Political Science and then at Fudan University in Shanghai. Freeman is grateful for the Rotary Foundation鈥檚 sponsorship and can鈥檛 wait to connect with Rotary International in London.

鈥淭he Rotary is so international and involves so many people trying to do good around the world,” she said. “Having this 鈥榠n鈥� and connections abroad鈥鈥檓 hoping it鈥檒l expose me to different perspectives.鈥�

Freeman is excited to study in London, where journalism has a rich history. She said she鈥檚 seen firsthand how involved the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) is in global media. She hopes studying close to this international news hub will allow her to further both her media and international relations knowledge.

Freeman said she plans to eventually work in nonprofit communications and advocate against harmful and stigmatizing narratives.

We caught up with Jones to talk about her path following graduation and her experiences as part of Shared Voices.

Q: What have you been working on since graduating from 麻豆影院?

Jones: I recently performed in Manhattan School of Music鈥檚 production of L鈥橢nfant et Les Sortil猫ges as Maman and La Libellule. This summer, I will have the pleasure of joining the Opera Theater of St. Louis as a Gerdine Young Artist, so I am currently preparing loads of music. During my time at OTSL, I will be covering the role of Monisha in Scott Joplin鈥檚 Treemonisha (reimagined by Damien Sneed), performing in the choruses of Tosca and Susanna, and portraying scenes from Eugene Onegin and Peter Grimes in the Center Stage Concert.

Q: What has the Shared Voices experience been like?

Jones: One of my favorite parts about being in Shared Voices has been learning about the Black women in the classical world who came before me. One of the requirements for Shared Voices cohort members is to perform a 15-minute lecture recital showcasing the works of Black composers. I chose to do a piece by Margaret Bonds. I had heard about her, but I had never sung her pieces. Well, I can say that my research process sparked a new love for her work. Her story and music resonate with me unlike the music of any other composer I currently sing.

We have so much fun in Shared Voices. Sometimes, programs can be a bit 鈥渟tuffy.鈥� That is not the case here. There is a level of camaraderie amongst the cohort members that is refreshing. When we first met each other at the launch at Howard University, we clicked. I firmly believe this beautiful atmosphere has everything to do with the sincere and supportive spirit in which the administration of Shared Voices operates.

Q: What has it been like to work with Denyce Graves?

Jones: I worked with Denyce Graves in a masterclass at 麻豆影院 in March 2022. Never would I have thought that six months later, I would join her program, and five months after that be featured on national television with her. I鈥檓 still in awe of how everything has turned out. I have looked up to this woman since I was 11 years old. I vividly remember standing up in Professor John Holiday鈥檚 office during my freshman year at 麻豆影院 and saying, 鈥淧rof, what if Denyce Graves came to 麻豆影院?! Y鈥檃ll would have to pack me out because I鈥檇 lose it.鈥� All I can say is that I had nothing to do with this series of events. All of this is the evidence of God鈥檚 hand in my life.

Q: Why do you find the work of Shared Voices to be so fulfilling?

Jones: The connection Denyce Graves is building between HBCUs and music conservatories is vital for the purposes of spreading knowledge and resources. When conservatories are brought up in conversation, they tend to be spoken of as more superior than the music programs at HBCUs鈥攊f HBCUs are mentioned at all. Shared Voices derails that problematic mindset by shining a light on the wonderful programs and artists that come out of HBCUs. This bridge between HBCUs and conservatories creates the opportunity to gain immeasurable and priceless knowledge of classical music鈥攎ore specifically the indelible imprint of Black artists in classical music鈥攖hrough each institution whether it be the extensive libraries at Howard University or ethnomusicologists at Juilliard. All in all, Denyce Graves is breaking the ground with this program, and I believe she has created something that will last for generations to come.

The double major in biology and music is starting a job as a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Boise, Idaho. While Boise will be her home base, her field work will expand into other parts of the Great Basin region, including Utah and Nevada.

鈥淚 will be doing field, lab, and data work to investigate wildfires, the ways they affect soil and vegetation, and the ways we can better manage land with a focus on adaptation and restoration,鈥� Long said. 鈥淚鈥檓 really inspired to do this type of applied science. I think wildfire is one of the most important issues of our time. It’s tied to drought and climate change, and these forces together pose a huge threat, not just to public lands in the Great Basin region but to the whole world.鈥�

鈥淎t 麻豆影院, I have become a field ecologist, a writer, and a computer scientist; during my next steps, I get to take these skills and use them to make a difference.鈥�
– Molly Long

Long said her experiences at 麻豆影院 in the classroom, in labs, and in the field have prepared her for this work.

鈥淎t 麻豆影院, I have become a field ecologist, a writer, and a computer scientist; during my next steps, I get to take these skills and use them to make a difference,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e done my own research in the sciences and humanities on drought, wildflowers, and environmental justice, and I鈥檝e learned I have an important and capable perspective that I am excited to apply to a new system in a new place. I have also become a musician, a thinker, and an expert backpacker; these skills, too, will help me, not just in my job but as an adult seeking a good life within a community.鈥�

Elliott Marsh

Drone operator, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, UW-Madison

The environmental studies and geosciences double major landed a job as a drone operator in the Townsend Laboratory in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

鈥淢y role will entail flying a variety of different drones to collect data to support various research projects, and analyzing that data as needed,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am really excited about this opportunity because I really love flying drones and all that comes with it, and being able to do that as a job and get paid for it is beyond exciting. I am also really excited because I will get to travel and work in the field a lot, two of my favorite things.鈥�

鈥淎nother lesson is that research is a long process, so take your time. Professor Jeff Clark instilled this in me during research this past summer, always reminding me to take my time, and minimize mistakes that will cost you later.鈥�
– Elliott Marsh

Marsh said one of the best things he鈥檚 taken from his time at 麻豆影院 is learning to be inquisitive. A willingness to ask questions will be key in his new work.

鈥淎nother lesson is that research is a long process, so take your time,鈥� Marsh said. 鈥淧rofessor Jeff Clark instilled this in me during research this past summer, always reminding me to take my time, and minimize mistakes that will cost you later.鈥�

Marsh also participated in the NASA Wisconsin Space Grant Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Research program as a 麻豆影院 student.

鈥淔rom knowing nothing, to publishing a proceedings paper, and presenting at a professional conference all in 10 weeks was quite an experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 learned so many lessons 鈥� that I鈥檒l take with me to the next step and beyond.鈥�

Kelsi Bryant

Graduate school at LSU, higher education administration

The government major is heading to Louisiana State University, where she will pursue a master鈥檚 degree in higher education administration while working as a graduate resident coordinator.

Working to develop community within residential spaces and support students on their college journey is familiar ground for Bryant, who was heavily involved in student government and other student life activities at 麻豆影院, including serving for a time as 麻豆影院 University Community Council (LUCC) president.

鈥淢y ultimate career goal is to work in university administration, hopefully as a university president,鈥� Bryant said. 鈥淎t LSU, I am looking forward to learning as much as I can and getting experience in everything.鈥�

鈥淚 truly feel prepared to thrive at LSU because of the lessons learned at 麻豆影院.鈥�
– Kelsi Bryant

She said her experiences both in and out of the classroom at 麻豆影院 have given her confidence to set her own course.

鈥淚 was taught to advocate for my career, think critically, problem-solve, and make and sustain professional relationships,鈥� Bryant said. 鈥淚 truly feel prepared to thrive at LSU because of the lessons learned at 麻豆影院.鈥�

Emmeline Sipe

Graduate school at Middlebury Institute of International Studies, translation and interpretation

The double major in music (voice) and Spanish will be pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in translation and interpretation at Middlebury Institute of International Studies.听

鈥淎s a musician, the side of me that loves to work with others in real time and present a quality performance is excited by interpretation,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he side of me that loves writing and playing with words is excited by translation. Because of these two interests, I was drawn to Middlebury Institute鈥檚 unique program in both translation and interpretation.鈥�

鈥淢y 麻豆影院 experience has taught me that the final product is always better when we work as a team.鈥�
– Emmeline Sipe

After graduate school, she鈥檚 interested in a career in humanitarian settings.

鈥淒uring a Spanish class I took with Professor (Rosa) Tapia鈥�Gender, Politics, and Current Events in Spain鈥攚e were tasked with imagining a mock cultural exchange project with a Spanish humanitarian organization,鈥� Sipe said. 鈥淭he project inspired me to further explore the intersection of humanitarian work and translation and interpretation.鈥�

Sipe said academic collaboration has been a big part of her experience at 麻豆影院, and she said that gives her confidence heading into grad school.

鈥淢y 麻豆影院 experience has taught me that the final product is always better when we work as a team,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his spirit of collaboration is something I hope to bring to my future translation work.鈥�

Jessica Hopkins

Graduate school, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary

The religious studies major will be attending Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in the fall in pursuit of a master鈥檚 degree in public ministry.

鈥淭he program really aligns with my dream job of becoming a researcher,鈥� Hopkins said. 鈥淚 will be taking the Racial Justice track, which focuses on social justice and real-world application with encouraged internships within the larger Chicago area. The program allows personal interests and passions to drive research and also pushes students to see and think differently.鈥�

鈥淭hat is one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned, to ask for help with classes, events, and life. It really is the only way to learn and grow.鈥�
– Jessica Hopkins

Hopkins, a leader with the LUNA (麻豆影院 University Native Americans) student group, said her 麻豆影院 experience has prepared her for this next step in myriad ways.

鈥淎sk for help,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat is one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned, to ask for help with classes, events, and life. It really is the only way to learn and grow.鈥�

She also said she鈥檚 learned to make self-care a priority and that she’s ready for her voice to be heard.

鈥淲hat you say matters,鈥� she said.

Ian Harvey

Admissions and academic affairs coordinator, Pre-College Division, The Juilliard School

The double major in music and philosophy will be working in the Pre-College Division of The Juilliard School in New York as the admissions and academic affairs coordinator. He鈥檒l be putting his experiences in the 麻豆影院 Conservatory to work on the admissions end of music and arts education.

鈥淢y role involves doing work as a registrar and admissions counselor to make sure all the logistics in pre-college run smoothly for classes, lessons, and performances,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 never planned to move to New York, and, for a while, I was explicitly against it. However, when I was offered this position, there was no way I could say no. Being in the city is, for lack of a better word, absolutely insane, but in the best way possible. There鈥檚听always听something happening, somewhere to be, and exciting people to meet. I鈥檓 excited to take full advantage of that.鈥�

鈥淚 firmly believe that liberal arts graduates get jobs.鈥�
– Ian Harvey

Harvey said working in the Admissions office at 麻豆影院 has reinforced for him the value of the liberal arts experience.

鈥淚 firmly believe that liberal arts graduates get jobs,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hroughout the application process, I was always focused on being as clear and concise as possible and really made sure to emphasize my ability to learn and adapt to changing situations.鈥澨�

Curtis Weyerhaeuser

Business Career Foundation Program, Boeing

The economics major and 麻豆影院 hockey player is going to work for Boeing as part of its Business Career Foundation Program.

鈥淚 will be working through five different finance rotations within Boeing鈥檚 helicopter sector,鈥� Weyerhaeuser said. 鈥淚 expect this to give me experience in a variety of business disciplines and hope it opens various doors for me after this two-year rotation.鈥�

鈥淚 will be working through five different finance rotations within Boeing鈥檚 helicopter sector.鈥�
– Curtis Weyerhaeuser

In addition to his economics studies, Weyerhaeuser said his experiences with 麻豆影院 hockey taught him valuable lessons that he will take with him.

鈥淚 hope to apply the same hard work, time management, and creative thinking skills I鈥檝e used as a 麻豆影院 student-athlete to the first steps of my career,鈥� he said.

Maggie McGlenn

Thomas J. Watson Fellowship

The biology major is the 77th Lawrentian over the past 53 years to be awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. It provides $36,000 in funding for a year-long听wanderjahr听of independent travel and exploration.

McGlenn will travel to Scotland, India, Tajikistan, Senegal, and the Netherlands, seeking out communities of people involved in the creation and/or recycling of clothing while staying in harmony with the land they call home.

McGlenn said she has been fascinated by fashion since she was a toddler and expects it to be part of her life going forward. But how that ties in with her other interests, including the ways fashion can be used for good, is something she鈥檒l have a chance to explore through her Watson experience.

鈥淲henever I would get nervous or overwhelmed during the application process, I would just remind myself that my plan was to go and make clothes, and I would instantly become excited again,鈥� she said.

鈥淓ver since I learned about it, I鈥檝e been day-dreaming about what I would do if given the chance.鈥�
– Maggie McGlenn

McGlenn said she grew up hearing tales of the places that she鈥檒l now get to visit.

鈥淚 learned about the Watson through friends who described it to me as the chance to travel the world studying something you are uniquely passionate about,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ver since I learned about it, I鈥檝e been day-dreaming about what I would do if given the chance.鈥�

Alex Chand

Graduate school at University of Leeds in U.K., English literature

The double major in English and physics received a Fulbright award to support her pursuit of a master鈥檚 degree in English literature at the University of Leeds in the U.K.

She will apply her interdisciplinary background, writing a thesis that examines representations of autistic and cognitively disabled voices in literature. Following her Fulbright year, she will be heading to听Ole Miss in pursuit of her MFA in creative writing.

鈥淚’m grateful for the flexibility, independence, and adventures I’ve had in undergrad.鈥�
– Alex Chand

Chand said it was work done at 麻豆影院 that prepared her for this opportunity, both in science labs and in the expansion of her writing. Her master鈥檚 thesis, she said, will in many ways be an extension of her undergraduate honors thesis, Charting Autistic Voices.

鈥淚’m grateful for the flexibility, independence, and adventures I’ve had in undergrad,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 came into undergrad convinced that I wanted to do biophysics鈥攚hich is funny in hindsight, because I spent a year between high school and college writing. Through听a summer of research at the NIH (National Institutes of Health) in a biophysics lab and another summer of virtual research through a physics REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) at the University of New Mexico, as well as a virtual biomedical optics summer institute run by the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, I learned loads of valuable skills I’ve been able to carry with me back to 麻豆影院 and use in my science classes. But at the end of each day, I found myself wanting to read and write. Of course, I do a bit of writing as a scientist, too. It’s just not where my heart is, though.鈥�

Marion Hermitanio

English teaching assistantship in Mexico

The double major in Spanish and linguistics is also a recipient of a Fulbright award. It will take her to Mexico to teach for a year.

Hermitanio, who hopes to pursue a career in speech-language pathology, said she viewed the Fulbright as an opportunity to engage more deeply with Mexico and Latin America.

鈥淢y previous engagements with the Latin-American and particularly the Mexican-American community inspired me to apply to teach in the country that many of my peers first called home,鈥� she said.听

鈥淢y classes have helped me realize that as much as language is a powerful tool for human connection, standard linguistic practices are often rooted in perspectives that uphold one community while denying others visibility.”
– Marion Hermitanio

Hermitanio called her 麻豆影院 experience a great training ground for this next step.

鈥淚 feel like I have a unique perspective having studied linguistics at 麻豆影院,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y classes have helped me realize that as much as language is a powerful tool for human connection, standard linguistic practices are often rooted in perspectives that uphold one community while denying others visibility. I want to teach students to own their language and find new ways to communicate who they are. I鈥檓 excited to bring this perspective and what I鈥檝e learned at 麻豆影院 to my English teaching assistantship in Mexico.鈥�

Chand will apply her interdisciplinary background in graduate school at Leeds, writing a thesis that examines representations of autistic and cognitively disabled voices in literature.

鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled,鈥� she said of landing the Fulbright.

While abroad, Chand plans to continue her work in disability advocacy, something she has been passionate about at 麻豆影院, and will transition from competing in cross country at 麻豆影院 to competing in triathlons in England.

Her award is particularly notable considering there is only one Fulbright position at the University of Leeds, and competition for it is always robust, Kervin said.

Chand said it was work done at 麻豆影院 that prepared her for this opportunity, both in science labs and in the expansion of her writing. Her master鈥檚 thesis, she said, will in many ways be an extension of her undergraduate honors thesis, Charting Autistic Voices.

鈥淚’m grateful for the flexibility, independence, and adventures I’ve had in undergrad,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 came into undergrad convinced that I wanted to do biophysics鈥攚hich is funny in hindsight, because I spent a year between high school and college writing. Through听a summer of research at the NIH (National Institutes of Health) in a biophysics lab and another summer of virtual research through a physics REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) at the University of New Mexico, as well as a virtual biomedical optics summer institute run by the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, I learned loads of valuable skills I’ve been able to carry with me back to 麻豆影院 and use in my science classes. But at the end of each day, I found myself wanting to read and write. Of course, I do a bit of writing as a scientist, too. It’s just not where my heart is, though.鈥�

Chand credited professor Doug Martin in Physics and professors Celia Barnes, Karen Hoffmann, Melissa Range, and Timothy Spurgin in English with helping her find that balance between science and literature. And she praised Kervin for helping her make sense of all that in the Fulbright application process.

“Professor Range is my honors thesis advisor, has always been supportive of my work, and encouraged me to apply to Ole Miss for my MFA in creative writing, where I’ll be heading after my Fulbright,” Chand said.

Hermitanio: Heading to Mexico

Hermitanio applied to the Fulbright program to be an English teaching assistant (ETA) in Mexico.

鈥淚t felt so surreal,鈥� Hermitanio said of getting the news that she received the award. 鈥淚 applied for the Fulbright not thinking at all that I would get it.鈥�

Hermitanio said she viewed the Fulbright as an opportunity to engage more deeply with Mexico and Latin America.

鈥淢y previous engagements with the Latin-American and particularly the Mexican-American community inspired me to apply to teach in the country that many of my peers first called home,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough volunteering at the Appleton Bilingual School and working as a Spanish interpreter and teaching assistant for an English learner program, I had the opportunity to build relationships with Latinxs and Spanish speakers in the Appleton area. However, I know that staying in my Wisconsin bubble can only do so much to expose me to Latin-American culture.鈥�

Hermitanio is planning to pursue a career in speech-language pathology.

鈥淚 want to work with Spanish-speaking populations and advocate for more linguistic and cultural awareness within the field, and I听think that there鈥檚 no better way to learn about the Latin American identity than living and working in a Latin American country,鈥� she said

Kervin helped guide Hermitanio through the application process. And she got an assist from Rosa Tapia, professor of Spanish, in preparing for an interview in Spanish.

鈥淚 feel like I have a unique perspective having studied linguistics at 麻豆影院,鈥� Hermitanio said. 鈥淢y classes have helped me realize that as much as language is a powerful tool for human connection, standard linguistic practices are often rooted in perspectives that uphold one community while denying others visibility. I want to teach students to own their language and find new ways to communicate who they are. I鈥檓 excited to bring this perspective and what I鈥檝e learned at 麻豆影院 to my English teaching assistantship in Mexico.鈥�

The selections for Fulbright honors came from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.听

麻豆影院 students interested in applying in the future for a Fulbright award or other fellowships should reach out to Kervin.

Two 麻豆影院 University alumni doing graduate school work in the sciences have been awarded highly competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships.

Katie Kitzinger 鈥�20, a graduate student at the University of North Carolina, is studying organic chemistry and pursuing research that focuses on reactions that rapidly build molecular complexity.

Gus Lowry 鈥�18, a graduate student at Duke University, is studying biochemistry with a focus on membrane biology.

The 2022 awards are part of the NSF鈥檚 Graduate Research Fellowships Program (GRFP), which recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees. The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support.

In addition to the awards given to Kitzinger and Lowry, three other recent 麻豆影院 graduates earned honorable mention鈥擡van Cline 鈥�20 (Dartmouth), Nabor Vazquez 鈥�19 (Yale), and Nicolette Puskar 鈥�19 (University of California, Berkeley).

Kitzinger, in her second year at North Carolina, said her focus on organic chemistry stems from her time at 麻豆影院.

鈥淚t was the chemistry faculty at 麻豆影院, especially Stefan Debbert, Deanna Donohoue, and Allison Fleshman, who initially inspired me to pursue a graduate degree in chemistry,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, it was a ton of fun sharing the exciting NSF news with them.鈥�

Lowry, meanwhile, said he was thrilled to receive the NSF award, knowing how high the bar is set.

鈥淗onestly, it鈥檚 surreal to receive the fellowship,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his was my second time applying, which made it easier to orchestrate, but it鈥檚 competitive enough where all you can do is put yourself out there and hope for a good result. I feel both fortunate and honored for the recognition.鈥�

Like Kitzinger, Lowry said it was his work with faculty at 麻豆影院 that put him on this path. He credits Fleshman, physics professor Doug Martin, and physics professor emeritus John Brandenberger with encouraging him to explore different types of research.

鈥淢oving across disciplines helped me put together a scientific vocabulary that has served me well thus far,鈥� Lowry said. 鈥淎long those lines, my research integrates biochemistry, biophysics, and engineering to create new tools for studying cell membranes. These technologies will help us answer fundamental questions about how cells fuse during development or viral infection.鈥�

The NSF fellowships are a point of pride for 麻豆影院 science faculty across the disciplines, Fleshman said. Having two recent graduates earn 2022 fellowships and three others get honorable mention status speaks to the breadth of STEM studies and research happening at 麻豆影院.

鈥淜atie Kitzinger approached her research with curiosity,鈥� Fleshman said. 鈥淚 enjoyed watching her tackle problems and was inspired every time she would bring me new insights into the data we were analyzing. I was so excited to hear, but not surprised, that she was awarded an NSF GRFP since she is already a rock star scientist.鈥�

Lowry, meanwhile, embraced every opportunity that came his way, Fleshman said.

鈥淚 had the pleasure of working with Gus his first year at 麻豆影院, measuring viscosities of ionic liquid systems to be used in battery materials, and I knew then that he was bound for great things,鈥� she said. 鈥淕us鈥檚 work now is in a completely different field from where he started, but that just shows how versatile of a scientist he is.鈥�

Travis Dillon 鈥�21 is the recipient of one of the nation鈥檚 most esteemed awards for undergraduate students doing mathematics research.

Dillon, who majored in mathematics while diving deep into a wide range of research before graduating from 麻豆影院 in June, will receive the 2022 AMS-MAA-SIAM Frank and Brennie Morgan Prize for Outstanding Research in Mathematics by an Undergraduate Student.

The Morgan Prize, presented jointly by the American Mathematical Society (AMS), the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), will be awarded January 5 in Seattle.

Now a graduate student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dillon called the 鈥渋ncredible honor鈥� a testament to the great mentors he had as an undergrad, including 麻豆影院 math professor Elizabeth Sattler, with whom he collaborated frequently over the past four years.

鈥淟iz Sattler has been, in more ways than I can count, an extraordinary mentor, advisor, and collaborator,鈥� he said.

In making its announcement of the award, the AMS said Dillon earned the Morgan Prize for his 鈥渟ignificant work in number theory, combinatorics, discrete geometry, and symbolic dynamics.鈥�

鈥淲hen I was told that I won, I was stunned,鈥� Dillon said. 鈥淓very winner in the last 15 years had attended high-profile universities鈥攅ither Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford or Yale.鈥�

Sattler said she first recognized Dillon鈥檚 vast potential as a math student when he dove into an independent research project with her as a sophomore.

鈥淚 was shocked at his ability to solve challenging, high-level problems in such a short amount of time,鈥� she said.听鈥淚 had anticipated this project would last an entire summer for a full-time student, but Travis solved that problem and pushed it further in just 10 weeks while still taking classes in Spring Term.听Every time I threw something new at him or pointed him in a different direction, he ran away with it.听It was just amazing.鈥�

For his Senior Experience project last year, Dillon wrote a book, Graphs, Groups, Infinity: Three stories in mathematics, that looked to explain math concepts in a way that people with minimal math experience could understand and appreciate. He did it, Sattler said, with a mix of authority, expertise, and humor.

鈥淗e finished with over 200 pages of creative and imaginative text complete with pictures, stories, and exercises,鈥� she said.听鈥淚t鈥檚 more fun than your standard textbook with things like Travis Dillon鈥檚 Rule of the Infinite鈥斺�業f you think it鈥檚 true, it probably isn鈥檛鈥欌�攁nd abstract multiplication tables filled in with rubber ducks with hats or scarves.听This was a great way for him to finish his time here at 麻豆影院 and allowed him to put all those wonderful quirks of a liberal arts student into a document that will be around for a long time.鈥�

The book currently lives in a digital format, with a few printed copies at 麻豆影院 courtesy of a print-on-demand service. Now Dillon is exploring options on how 鈥渢o best get it out into the world.鈥�

The book project, he said, was a great opportunity to meld his love of math with a growing interest in writing.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a certain Zen to selecting and arranging words that communicate an idea exactly; to crafting sentences, paragraphs, sections, and chapters in my own particular style; to being sly, quirky, serious, profound, and irreverent precisely as I choose,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 frustrating, too, at times, but so is math. To a certain extent, difficulty is part of the appeal.鈥�

While at 麻豆影院, Dillon completed seven papers, six of them published or accepted, four single-authored. In addition to independent studies with 麻豆影院 faculty, he attended summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) at Texas A&M University and Baruch College, and he spent a year in the Budapest Semesters in Mathematics program.

Scott Corry, professor of mathematics and chair of the Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Department, called the Morgan Prize 鈥渁 stunning and well-deserved achievement鈥� for Dillon.

鈥淥ur goal at 麻豆影院 is to help every student reach their full potential, and Travis鈥� potential is off the charts,鈥� Corry said. 鈥淲e are proud to have supported his development, through courses, mentoring, and research at LU as well as in off-campus programs, and we are eager to see his future contributions to mathematics and the broader world.鈥�

This isn鈥檛 the first time Dillon has been honored for his math research while at 麻豆影院. Earlier this year, he received a prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) award that will assist his work at MIT. A year prior, he was named a Goldwater Scholar, also a highly competitive honor.

Besides Sattler, Dillon said he鈥檚 had incredible mentors every step of the way. He was first inspired to pursue math while growing up near Newport, Washington. Two summers spent at a Canada/USA Mathcamp set him on his way.

This fall, Dillon began his graduate work at MIT as an MIT Presidential Fellow. Since 1999, MIT has used its Presidential Fellowships to 鈥渞ecruit the most outstanding students worldwide to pursue graduate studies at the Institute.鈥� It currently supports 110 to 125 new graduate students as Presidential Fellows each year.

The Morgan Prize, awarded annually to an undergraduate student for outstanding research in mathematics, was established in 1995 and is entirely endowed by a gift from Mrs. Frank (Brennie) Morgan.听.

The award is one more step on the journey, Dillon said. Whether it鈥檚 more research or elevating the writing he started with his book project, the possibilities going forward are plentiful.

鈥淚 really enjoy working on research, but explaining and getting people fired up about math, leading them to their own听aha!听moments鈥攖hat鈥檚 a different kind of joy,鈥� he said. 鈥淔ortunately, these things often go hand in hand, and I鈥檓 looking forward to a long career in both.鈥�