TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2023) – Ten University of South Florida students have been selected as Fulbright Scholars for the 2022-23 academic year, the most in the university’s history and an indication of USF’s growing global engagement. Fulbright, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, provides unique opportunities for USF students to study abroad, gain a deeper understanding of different cultures and make a positive impact on communities around the world.
With 10 students selected, for the first time USF is recognized as one of Fulbright’s top producing institutions. USF is No. 47 among national doctoral institutions and second in the state of Florida, according to rankings first published today by the Chronicle of Higher Education.
“The University of South Florida is proud to have a record number of Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipients and to be named as one of Fulbright’s top producing institutions,” USF President Rhea Law said. “The students and alumni participating in the Fulbright Program are a testament to our university’s commitment to pursuing excellence on a global scale, and I congratulate them on their outstanding achievements.”
USF’s student recipients come from the College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Public Health and Judy Genshaft Honors College.
They include Yoel Gebrai, who is currently in Ghana researching moringa oleifera, a widely cultivated multifunctional crop. The civil engineering doctoral student is developing the framework for assessing moringa oleifera’s social, economic and environmental impacts in the country.
Another recipient is Sydni Schlosser, who is studying for a master’s degree in the Netherlands. She applied for a Fulbright student grant to learn from another culture and group of researchers about methods in health economics to further explore her interest in health care markets. Schlosser completed her undergraduate education at USF with degrees in economics and cellular and molecular biology.
At USF, Fulbright applicants are guided by the Office of National Scholars. Over the past decade, ONS has helped to produce more than 70 Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipients.
“As Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipients, these students have connected their academic and professional pursuits at the University of South Florida to solving real world challenges in their host communities, leaving lasting and positive impressions,” ONS Director Sayandeb Basu said. “Our students serve as ambassadors for the United States abroad and will return with strengthened cultural competencies, research and teaching skills, thus impacting their home communities in Tampa Bay and beyond.”
Awarding approximately 2,000 grants per year, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program aims to build lasting ties between the U.S. and other countries, as it operates in 160 countries across the globe.
Since its inception in 1946, more than 400,000 individuals from all backgrounds and fields have participated in the Fulbright program – including recent university graduates, teachers, scientists, researchers, artists and others.
To view this story on the USF Newsroom website, click here.
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About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success, generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. Over the past 10 years, no other public university in the country has risen faster in U.S. News and World Report’s national university rankings than USF. Serving more than 50,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, USF is designated as a Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors, placing it in the most elite category among the state’s 12 public universities. USF has earned widespread national recognition for its success graduating under-represented minority and limited-income students at rates equal to or higher than white and higher income students. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.