This post originally appeared on @theU and was published July 8, 2025. This article is republished here with permission.
Four University of Utah students received Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the coming academic year. Another was named as an alternate.
“I am so proud of these students for receiving such a significant and impactful award,” said Mitzi Montoya, senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “The high number of applicants, semi-finalists and recipients from the U is indicative of the high caliber of students we have here. I’m grateful to our faculty and staff for supporting these students and providing a rich environment for them to thrive and achieve their goals.”
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, this nationally competitive program supports academic exchanges between the United States and over 140 countries around the world. Selected program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research or serve as English teaching assistants abroad. For additional information, see us.fulbrightonline.org.
All U Fulbright recipients received application support from the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships. For this application cycle, the U submitted 26 applications. Twelve of those applicants were named as semi-finalists. The cohort of four recipients represents six schools and colleges, including the College of Fine Arts, the College of Humanities, the College of Social and Behavioral Science, the David Eccles School of Business, the Honors College and the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine.
Applications are open for the 2026-27 Fulbright U.S. Student Program. U's internal deadline is Aug. 22, 2025, and Fulbright’s national deadline is Oct. 7, 2025. Learn more about the application process and how to develop a competitive application by visiting the ONCS website or contact Alison Shimko, the U's Fulbright Program advisor and the associate director of ONCS.
Learn more about this year's recipients and the alternate below.
B.S. in Finance from the David Eccles School of Business, Spring 2025
Miranda will participate in the Binational Business Program in Mexico. For his internship, he will partner with local organizations and financial institutions to address poverty in Mexico City. He will focus on providing comprehensive personal finance education to underserved communities and improving their access to banking services.
“Receiving the Fulbright is an incredible honor," Miranda said. "I’m looking forward to gaining hands-on experience in international business while living and working in Mexico. This opportunity will allow me to deepen my understanding of Mexico’s economy and build meaningful cross-cultural connections.”
Read more about Miranda here.
M.P.H. with a concentration in Global Health from the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, Spring 2025
Wulfman will study programs in Mumbai, India, that provide preventative violence against women education to men and boys. She will assess how these programs impact public-space sexual harassment and could serve to inform global policies. She will be mentored by a faculty expert in gender and women’s studies in the School of Public Health at DY Patil University in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
“I am honored to have received this Fulbright award, which will allow me to study a topic I am truly passionate about in a unique cultural context," Wulfman said. "I look forward to absorbing all of the valuable lessons this research year has to offer and plan to use these experiences to inform my future work in global public health, with a focus on gender equity, community collaboration and policy impact."
Read more about Wulfman here.
Honors B.A. in Political Science from the College of Social and Behavioral Science; Honors B.A. in International Studies and B.S. in Spanish from the College of Humanities, Spring 2025
Pelley will combine her interest in global affairs, advanced Spanish language skills and experience aligning ESL language acquisition and advocacy to teach English in Spain.
“I’m incredibly grateful to have received a Fulbright to teach English in Spain next academic year," Pelley said. "I’m excited to create an engaging, inclusive classroom environment that supports language learning and cultural exchange. This opportunity will allow me to grow alongside my students and gain a richer understanding of Spanish culture and pedagogy.”
As an undergraduate student, Pelley was a recipient of the prestigious Eccles Distinguished Scholarship from the Honors College. This scholarship is funded by the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation and provides four years of full funding for tuition, fees, books and on-campus housing at the University of Utah.
Read more about Pelley here.
B.A. in History from the College of Humanities; B.F.A with a concentration in Musical Theatre from the College of Fine Arts, Spring 2024
Salas aims to combine her academic training in the history and language of Germany, teaching and musical theatre experience, and ability to build connections with diverse groups to teach English in Germany.
“It is a privilege to be able to live, work and learn in another country, and I am so thankful and thrilled that Fulbright has selected me for this award," Salas said. "I know that I will be able to make an impact as an English teacher in Germany, and I am certain that I will return to the United States with a broader world view and a strengthened ability to teach students of all backgrounds.”
B.A. in Political Science from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences; B.A. in International Studies from the College of Humanities, Fall 2024
Munguia was selected as an alternate to serve as an English teaching assistant in South Korea.
“As a first-time applicant for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, I am very proud of being selected as an alternate," Munguia said. "It's a tough applicant pool, so it’s gratifying to know my work and studies made me a competitive candidate. This has pushed me to apply to similar programs, and I am excited for what the future holds.”
Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections and work to address complex global challenges. Fulbright alumni from the United States and around the world have gone on to achieve distinction in government, science, the arts, business, philanthropy and education. Among the ranks of Fulbright alums are 62 Nobel Prize recipients, 80 MacArthur Foundation Fellows, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners and 42 current or former heads of state or government.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipients from the University of Utah were advised throughout the application process by the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships, ONCS. While ONCS is housed in the Honors College and directed by Ginger Smoak, an Honors College professor, it serves non-Honors students and alumni from all campus areas. ONCS staff members work closely with potential applicants to help them develop competitive applications. This includes assessing eligibility, advising on letters of recommendation, providing feedback on written materials and tracking requirements and deadlines. If applicable, ONCS arranges practice and endorsement interviews and collaborates with campus partners to secure university endorsements.