Four Florida State University students have been selected for the 2025 Fulbright U.S. Student Program. These accomplished students are traveling to Argentina, Colombia, the Slovak Republic and the United Kingdom to teach, study and engage in cultural exchange as part of the U.S. State Department’s flagship international educational exchange program. 

From teaching English in South America and Eastern Europe to pursuing graduate studies in the U.K., FSU’s 2025 Fulbright recipients are advancing global understanding and academic excellence. 

“The Fulbright program is a vital conduit for connecting FSU and the wider world, allowing students to engage in meaningful research, teaching and cultural exchange,” said Keith McCall, acting director of the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards (2025-2026). “We look forward each year to working with interested applicants and learning about their desire to build a more interconnected world.” 

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s premier international exchange initiative, fostering mutual understanding between U.S. citizens and people around the world. Funded primarily through an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress to the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the program also benefits from support provided by partner governments, host institutions and private organizations across the globe. 

Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipients are selected each year for their academic or professional excellence and leadership potential. With opportunities in more than 160 countries, the program empowers students and recent graduates to teach, study or conduct research while serving as cultural ambassadors for the United States. 

“Rania, Isabella, Seth and Amelia embody the values and mission of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program,” said Bonnie Garcia-Gloeckner, associate director of the Office of National Fellowships. “They showcase some of the best qualities of the US and FSU abroad. We are excited about the positive impact they will make this year and in those to come.” 

The 2025-2026 Fulbright students from FSU are: Rania Chehaitli, Isabella DiGiorgio, Seth Kehr and Amelia Rivers. 

Meet the 2025 Fulbright Recipients: 

Rania Chehaitli, a recent graduate from FSU with dual degrees in political science and international affairs, is pursuing her Master of Laws in Gender and Human Rights at Ulster University in Belfast, U.K., through the Fulbright Graduate Study Award. She will take courses and conduct research alongside faculty at the university’s Transitional Justice Institute, gaining insight on international law and gender inequality in times of conflict.  

“Having access to this type of legal history will give me an enhanced perspective on the international system to supplement my American lens,” she said. “The Transitional Justice Institute at Ulster University is centered on legal research surrounding conflict and transition periods, essential to the understanding of practical implementation of protections for human rights.” 

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