The U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have named two Portland State University students and one recent graduate semifinalists for the 2022-2023 Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
“PSU has many amazing students with strong experiential backgrounds in disciplines that make them competitive applicants for Fulbright awards and other fellowships,” said Debra Clemans, Director of Portland State’s Fulbright Program. “Some students come to me thinking they don’t have much chance of succeeding but they try anyway and are often surprised that with a bit of guidance and lots of hard work, they CAN receive a major fellowship or Fulbright grant! I sometimes say to them, ‘You can’t win if you don’t apply.’ “
Final selection of U.S. Student Fulbright awards will be confirmed this spring. Recipients are selected in an open, merit-based competition that considers leadership potential, academic and/or professional achievement, and record of service.
Portland State University’s semifinalists:
Jennifer Cie is a graduate of the MFA in Creative Writing program. Her work centers on preserving narratives of historically excluded peoples and examining the idea of place beyond physical location. She hopes to continue her work in the Netherlands through collaborative research with the IHLIA LGBT Archive (formerly known as the International Gay/Lesbian Information Center and Archive), Leiden University, and Stedelijk Museum.
Angie Setthavongsack, also known as Gee, is an upcoming graduate in Spring 2022 studying Psychology and Public Health. They are a BUILD EXITO scholar with hopes to continue their ongoing research in Chiang Rai, Thailand where they will be working with school children and cognitive function.
Georgina Young-Ellis graduated from Portland State with a master’s degree in Spanish Language and Literature in 2020, and felt that applying for the Fulbright, to teach and work on a research project in Mexico, would be a great way to expand upon what she learned in her studies. “Beyond that, I am excited about the possibility to help further the Fulbright mission, which includes promoting understanding and friendship among people of different countries and cultures.”
See past Fulbright recipients and more information about the program.