Center: Fulbright recipient Nag Poe ’24 in Thailand. Left and right: Students at the 2025 "I Hit Submit" celebration.
On February 3, the Fulbright Program recognized St. Catherine University as one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of students and recent alumni selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. St. Kate’s is one of three institutions in Minnesota and 96 nationwide to achieve this recognition. As a Fulbright Top Producing Institution, St. Kate’s celebrates its commitment to global connection and collaboration.
Two St. Kate’s graduates were selected for Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the academic year 2025–26. Katies have been awarded Fulbrights for multiple consecutive years (including, most recently, 2024–25, 2023–24, and 2022–23), with the very first Katie recipient occurring in 1953.
The Fulbright Program, established in 1946, is the U.S. government’s premier international academic exchange program. Each year, it provides opportunities for exceptional Americans and participants from 160 countries and locations to study, teach, and conduct research abroad, advancing knowledge, science, and industry through international exchange and collaboration. Fulbright alumni achieve distinction and are recognized as leaders in government, business, science, technology, research, education, and the arts.
"We are honored to be recognized as a top Fulbright-producing institution, but we are not entirely surprised,” said Denise Baird, PhD, provost and senior vice president. “Seeing our intelligent, curious, and motivated students excel at this level is something we witness every day. Our Fulbright Fellowship students contribute to our thriving intellectual climate and are an example to other students across the campus.”
Baird noted the dedication of St. Kate’s Fulbright mentors, sharing, “I am also grateful to the staff and faculty who work alongside our students and guide them as they grow personally and academically, which then culminates in highly competitive Fulbright applications.”
Applicants to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program at St. Kate’s are supported by the Competitive Fellowships office, which was established as part of the Office of Scholarly Engagement to provide more visibility and accessibility to fellowships. Competitive Fellowships supports both students and alumni in applying for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, as well as other fellowships, in all areas of study and degree levels. The Competitive Fellowships office works with applicants through the whole process, culminating in “I Hit Submit” celebrations that honor the preparation that goes into applying — work and learning that strongly positions applicants for future opportunities regardless of whether they are awarded the fellowship.
The University’s most recent Fulbright recipient is Nag Poe ’24, who was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award for the 2025–26 year and is currently teaching in Thailand.
“Immersing myself in a different culture was something I've always wanted to do so this was the perfect opportunity for me,” Poe said. “This … has granted me the opportunity to make so many connections around the world. The host country has been phenomenal with their communication as well as their hospitality. Everyone in my cohort is kind and respectful. People [are] of different disciplines but we came together for the same idea of broadening our spectrum."
Josibeth Aguilera ’25 also received a 2025–26 Fulbright award to teach in Kyrgyzstan, but ultimately turned it down to pursue a fully funded master’s degree in public policy at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
“Since its founding, the Fulbright Program has fostered intercultural exchange and mutual understanding across borders,” said Neela Nandyal, PhD, director of Global Studies and Competitive Fellowships, reflecting on the continued relevance of Fulbright in 2026. “Today, this work matters more than ever, and St. Kate’s students and alumni are uniquely positioned to advance it.”
D’Ann Urbaniak Lesch, assistant vice president for engaged learning and employer and community partnerships, will attend a reception recognizing this year’s Fulbright top producing institutions in Washington, D.C. later this month.
The application for 2027–28 Fulbright awards will open this spring. Learn more on the Competitive Fellowships webpage.
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.
For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit fulbrightprogram.org.