The ’s mission is to promote educational and cultural exchange around the globe through study, teaching and research. While college students are often Fulbright’s most visible mascots, faculty members also take part in the program each year to teach and conduct research internationally. For the 2024-25 academic year, UofL boasted two Fulbright Faculty Scholars from its classroom lecterns who traveled abroad and hosted one visiting faculty member from southeastern Europe.

Let’s take a spin around the globe and see where UofL’s Fulbright Faculty Scholars dropped their pins.

Fulbright Faculty Scholar: Udayan Darji

Destination: Charles University, Czech Republic

Founded in 1348 by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, Charles University is one of the oldest universities in the world in continuous operation and the largest in the Czech Republic. For Udayan Darji, a professor in UofL’s within the , the chance to both teach and conduct research in the central European capital of Prague was an unmissable opportunity.

“Serving as a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar in Prague … has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life,” said Darji, who not only collaborated academically while abroad but also explored Czech culture through Fulbright Commission programs.

“Highlights like attending (the famous opera) “Rusalka” at the Národní divadlo, traveling to historic sites like Karlštejn Castle and the Cathedral of St. Barbara in Kutná Hora, learning Czech, enjoying the legendary Pilsner beer and forming lasting friendships have made this an unforgettable journey,” he said.

Fulbright Faculty Scholar: Jason Jaggers

Destination: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Jason Jaggers, an associate professor of exercise physiology in UofL’s within the , called his Fulbright experience at Brazil’s Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte “transformative,” adding that it contributes major benefits not only to his department but to the entire UofL community.

“I was reminded why I became a professor through the opportunity to lecture and connect with students eager to learn and practice their English,” said Jaggers. “Many had never met an international scholar before, and it was a privilege to be that first connection.”

Beyond academics, Jaggers experienced unforgettable cultural moments in the northeastern region of Brazil such as seeing the world’s largest cashew tree and enjoying a sunset saxophone performance honored by Guinness World Records in the specific location of South America that experiences the first sunset each evening.

The world reciprocates

While UofL saw two of its own venture to faraway institutions, the ’s�� welcomed a new member to the Cardinal community. Faculty sponsor Amir Amini, endowed chair of bio-imaging, hosted Fulbright Faculty Scholar and researcher Tijana Geroski, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering from the University of Kragujevac in the European nation of Serbia. Geroski has the distinction of being the first Fulbright Faculty Scholar from abroad to conduct research at the Speed School.

Established by the United States Congress in 1946, the Fulbright Scholar Program was created to strengthen mutual understanding and peaceful relations between academics both in the U.S. and around the globe, whether through the arts, public health, science and technology, or public service. Today, roughly 8,000 merit-based grants are awarded each year to students and faculty scholars of all backgrounds.

Curious where a Fulbright award could take you or your students? Explore professional opportunities at or connect with UofL’s to learn more about programs and applications for students.

Savannah Harper contributed to this story.

The two completed a feat never before achieved at the University of Louisville as they became the first siblings to receive such distinguished honors.

Although the accomplishment was unprecedented, the brother and sister were not the first in their family to call themselves Cards. Following in their parents’ footsteps, Naethan and Natasha chose to attend the University of Louisville as Grawemeyer and McConnell Scholars, respectively before turning their attention to the Fulbright program. Natasha pursued marketing and political science majors, while Naethan found a chemical engineering mentor in James Watters – the same professor who taught and advised their father on his path to a PhD at UofL in the 90s.

The Mundkur siblings were competitive growing up, but not with each other. Instead, their ambitious spirit was internal.

“We are both competitive, but in our own direction,” said Natasha. “My brother is a Slytherin and I’m a Gryffindor. We approached our world from two very different lenses. We may have had our opportunities to clash in terms of being brother-sister competitive, but I don’t think it has ever impacted our fields.”

“Natasha and I are the kind of people who become antsy or dissatisfied when we feel like our life is becoming stagnant,” Naethan added. “We feed off of our successes.”

Naethan’s technical intelligence versus Natasha’s social intelligence meant that they were never competing for the same things. Instead of butting heads or battling for the spotlight, the Mundkur siblings find a sense of pride in each other’s success.

If it weren’t for his sister’s experience and encouragement, Naethan likely would not be a part of the renowned Fulbright network.

“A lot of successes aren’t solely my own,” said Naethan. “My sister was 100% a driving force in why I applied [for the Fulbright Award].”

She helped him through the process, introduced him to Bethany Smith and Dr. Charles Leonard in the International Scholarships Office, and urged him to write a story for his application that encompassed who he is.

Like many people, the Mundkurs’ outlook on life, finding success, and working hard was largely shaped by their family. Raised by two engineers, Naethan followed in their footsteps to enter the field. Natasha on the other hand, drew inspiration from watching the struggles and emotional life lessons of her parents.

As people of color, the Mundkur siblings knew of the obstacles that would come their way from a young age. Growing up as the children of immigrants in Louisville, they understood the value of working hard at an early point in their lives.

“I saw my parents go from fresh, new, permanent residents in this country to full-blown citizens – moving from one part of Louisville to the exact opposite part over our lifespan and seeing our lives change,” said Natasha. “Our parents never sugar coated the life that we would have or the struggles that we would face.”

“There’s no doubt in my mind that the combination of watching our father’s drive to succeed and then having our mom, who I can’t really quantify the value of her raising us, being there for us, taking us to events and practices – just always being around – that one-two punch combination I think helped us both become what we are,” said Naethan

From a young age, the siblings were bound to accomplish lofty goals. While nothing is set in stone, the siblings have big plans for their careers. Natasha has her sights set on diplomatic relations, while Naethan is eager to work on the development of groundbreaking technologies.

The Fulbright program allows the two of them to gain an international and intercultural immersive learning experience that fosters research and relationships alike. While their goals may be vastly different on paper, at the core they are the same. The siblings have a passion to bring positive change to their community, and when Naethan and Natasha Mundkur are passionate about something, they will give it their all. It’s the way they were raised.

McGrath graduated in May 2020 with degrees in English and philosophy and will be an English Teaching Assistant in Spain. The Louisville native also plans to explore the local music scene and offer music lessons during his time overseas.����

The original story published in July is below.

The University of Louisville continues its strong showing in national and international scholarships and fellowships with 21 students receiving offers to attend prestigious programs around the globe.

This year’s batch includes 11 Cardinals selected for the U.S. Student Fulbright Program, the third year in a row UofL has racked up Fulbright offers in the double digits.

“I continue to be amazed at the number of prestigious scholars produced by this university each and every year,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “Nothing makes me more proud than seeing our students achieve such great honors and knowing that our faculty and staff are so supportive of their efforts.”

With individual country programs in flux due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some offers might be curtailed or postponed, and some alternates typically receive offers to join the program, so numbers won’t be finalized until later this calendar year. At any rate, officials expect that, including this year, more than 140 UofL alums will have received Fulbrights since 2003–more than all other Kentucky public institutions combined.

“We’re so proud to see UofL’s incredible students earning recognition and pursuing exciting opportunities,” said Bethany Smith, fellowships coordinator with the Office of National and International Scholarships, “and as always, a key part of the process has been the involvement of faculty and staff who recommend and mentor students and serve as campus interviewers.”

“The performances of our students and alumni stack up against those of many top-tier schools, including those in the Ivy League and at other highly-ranked public flagships,” said Charlie Leonard of the Office of National and International Scholarships.

Students and alumni earned other prestigious, competitive awards this cycle. All are noted below.

Fulbright Awards

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers research, study and teaching opportunities in more than 140 countries to recent graduates and graduate students. Administered in the U.S. by the Department of State’s Bureau of ����ֱ��al and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright program was established in 1946 to promote international goodwill through education and cultural exchange.

Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships (ETA)

• graduated this spring with a degree in education. She has been selected to work in Spain as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant. She is originally from Lisle, Illinois.
• , a McConnell Scholar from Owensboro, Kentucky, graduated this spring with an individualized major concentrating on international relations, Spanish, history, political science and linguistics. He was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Spain next year.
• , of Louisville, has been selected as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant for the Czech Republic. She is a member of the Brown Fellows Program and graduated this spring with majors in biochemistry and political science.
• earned degrees in art and Latin American & Latino Studies in 2018. She is from Louisville and was selected as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Costa Rica.
• , a member of UofL’s Guaranteed Entrance to Medical School (GEMS) program, graduated this spring with majors in biology and Spanish. He was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Spain. He is from Shepherdsville, Kentucky.
• is a UofL 2020 graduate from Elizabethtown, Kentucky. A McConnell Scholar majoring in political science, he received a Fulbright offer to teach English in Malaysia.
• was selected to teach English as a Fulbright ETA in Jordan. She is from Louisville and was a Muhammad Ali Scholar and Porter Scholar at UofL. She earned her degree in political science in 2019.

 Fulbright Research/Graduate Study Awards

• is working toward a doctorate in public health at UofL and has been selected for a Fulbright-Fogarty Public Health Fellowship to do research in Ghana. She grew up in Accra, Ghana and Chicago.
• graduated from UofL in 2018 with a degree in political science. She was a Jones Scholar, Honors Scholar and 2017 English Speaking Union Scholarship recipient and will travel to Hungary next year to study international relations. She is from Tampa, Florida.
• , of Owensboro, Kentucky, received her bachelor’s in bioengineering this spring and has been selected for a Fulbright research award for Canada.
• graduated in May 2018 with a degree in chemical engineering. He received a Fulbright research award to conduct research in the field in the United Arab Emirates.

Boren Scholarship

The Boren Awards, sponsored by the U.S. National Security ����ֱ�� Program (NSEP), provide undergraduate and graduate students in all fields of study with funding for up to one year of immersive study abroad in languages and regions of interest to U.S. national security.

• , a McConnell Scholar who graduated this spring with a degree in philosophy, has been selected for a Boren Scholarship to study the Croatian language in Croatia next year.
• will spend next year studying Swahili in Tanzania as a Boren Scholar. She is originally from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and graduated from UofL this spring with degrees in economics and marketing.
• , a junior Grawemeyer Scholar majoring in chemistry and psychology, has been awarded a Boren Scholarship to study Mandarin in Taiwan. She is from Worthington, Kentucky.

Critical Language Scholarship

The CLS program provides opportunities for overseas language and cultural immersion for students interested in critical languages that are essential to the United States’ engagement with the world.

• : Russian

Rotary Global Grant

Rotary Global Grants support humanitarian work, scholarships and vocational training projects aimed at building international relationships, promoting peace and improving lives.

• , of Ashland, Kentucky, earned her BS in business administration and marketing in 2019. She will pursue a master’s in social innovation and entrepreneurship at London School of Economics.

English-Speaking Union KY Branch Summer Scholarship

The English-Speaking Union is a nonprofit educational service organization. Its summer study abroad scholarships for college juniors and Kentucky teachers are intended to promote the advancement of knowledge in an expanding global community.

• is a junior Grawemeyer Scholar and political science major from Morning View, Kentucky. She was selected to study history, politics and society at Oxford.
• is a junior Martin Luther King Scholar majoring in history and Pan-African Studies. She is from Clarksville, Indiana, and has received an ESU Scholarship to study history at Cambridge.

Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program

The Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program is a paid summer fellowship designed to foster the entrance of talented students from diverse backgrounds within the humanities, social sciences and fine arts into academia.

• is a rising senior majoring in women, gender and sexuality studies and Pan-African Studies, with a minor in social change. A Louisville native, Sidney was selected to spend the summer researching racial representation in contemporary television.

Mary Churchill Humphrey Scholarship

The University of Louisville Centenary Memorial Scholarship enables graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences to pursue advanced study in the United Kingdom.

• graduated from UofL in 2013 with degrees in political science and social change. During her time at UofL, the Louisville native was a McConnell Scholar who received a 2013-2014 Fulbright ETA to Malaysia. She will pursue a degree in politics of conflict, rights and justice at SOAS University of London.

2020 NASA DEVELOP Program

DEVELOP address environmental and public policy issues through interdisciplinary research projects.

• graduated in May 2020 with a master’s degree in geography and geosciences. She earned a research opportunity with the NASA DEVELOP program.

More information about UofL’s prestigious scholars is .����

: UofL is a top producer of students who receive Fulbright awards. Meet three UofL Fulbright Scholars and read about their time abroad.

: Led by strong mentors, students such as MeNore Lake are addressing global health challenges in Louisville and beyond.

: Because of advanced research being done at UofL, a boy born without fingers on his hand can throw a ball, and that’s just the beginning.

: Medical School Outreach Ambassador Ibrahim Noor and Kent School graduate student Jennifer Ballard-Kang have found success in helping refugees. 

The full issue of UofL Magazine is also available.