Grinnell College is Named a Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Students
Today, the Fulbright Program recognized Grinnell College as one of the nation’s top-producing colleges and universities for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, based on the number of students and recent alumni selected. Institutions designated as Fulbright Top Producers share a strong commitment to global engagement and actively support members of their campus communities in pursuing international learning, teaching, and research opportunities.
Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange initiative. Each year, it offers opportunities for exceptional students, scholars, and professionals from the United States and more than 160 countries and locations to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Through these exchanges, the program advances knowledge, fosters mutual understanding, and strengthens international collaboration across disciplines. Fulbright alumni go on to become leaders in government, business, science, technology, education, research, and the arts.
“Grinnell’s commitment to intellectual curiosity, global understanding, critical thinking, and the exchange of ideas provides a strong foundation for success,” said Ann Landstrom, Fulbright Program adviser and assistant dean and director of global fellowships and awards in the Center for Careers, Life, and Service. “Our alumni return from their Fulbright experiences having made meaningful contributions to their host communities and with valuable preparation for the next steps in their professional lives.”
2025–26 Fulbright Grant Recipients
Nora Kohnhorst ’25, a history and German studies double major with a European studies concentration from Queens, New York, was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Germany. She is placed in Soltau, Lower Saxony, where she supports English language instruction at the vocational school level while sharing American history and culture and engaging in community-based cultural exchange.
Zachary Walsh ’25, a sociology major from San Francisco, California, was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Costa Rica. Beginning in January 2026, he started his grant term at Universidad Nacional, Campus Pérez Zeledón, supporting English language learning, leading presentations and clubs, and participating in public and cultural outreach initiatives.
Zoe Zallek ’25, an independent major in language science and education from Peoria Heights, Illinois, was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Latvia. Based in Rēzekne, she works with two secondary schools to support English conversation, literacy, and writing while participating in American studies programming and cultural exchange.
At Grinnell College, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is administered through the Global Fellowships and Awards (GFA) program in the Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS). A full list of Grinnell College’s Fulbright U.S. Student Grantees since 2005 is available online.
The 2026-2027 grant year application cycle is now in the semi-finalist stage where 15 of our 21 candidates are having their applications reviewed by the host country. The application process for the 2027–28 grant year is soon underway. Landstrom encourages current students and alumni interested in opportunities in more than 140 countries to connect with her to learn more about the program and explore how a Fulbright experience might align with their academic, professional, and global interests.
About the Fulbright Program
Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and partner institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program.
Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors, and the world and have included 44 heads of state or government, 63 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 83 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders all sectors and industries across the United States and around the world.
Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided nearly 450,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals, of all backgrounds and in all fields, the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program.
For more information visit https://fulbrightprogram.org