Each year the Office of International Affairs and the Undergraduate Fellowship Office combine efforts to provide a full week of activities to promote the prestigious Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays programs.
The events feature information sessions with our Fulbright administrators and panel discussions with Ohio State and international students and faculty who have received Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays grants in an effort to enhance awareness of the value the Fulbright experience brings to teaching, research and intercultural perspectives, as well as to attract further participation and support.
All Ohio State faculty, professionals, graduate and undergraduate students are welcome to participate in Fulbright Week 2026. Sessions are virtual, unless otherwise noted.
Fulbright Week 2026
March 23 - 27, 2026
Faculty
Monday, March 23
11 a.m. - 12 noon
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Peer Review: Perspective of the Reviewers
The peer review process—a hallmark of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program—ensures that applications are evaluated according to rigorous academic, scholarly, and professional standards. The Institute of International Education (IIE) coordinates this process, including the assignment of applications to peer review committees. Applications recommended during peer review are subsequently considered by the host country, the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
This session offers an opportunity to learn about the peer review process and to gain insight into how applications are evaluated. Participants will also meet Ohio State faculty members who are Fulbright alumni and have served on the national peer review committee for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.
Panelists:
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
- Andrew Cruse, AIA, associate professor of Architecture, Knowlton School of Architecture (Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to Australia)
- Michael Vuolo, professor, Department of Sociology (Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to France, Croatia, and Portugal)
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser.
2 - 3 p.m.
Fulbright U.S. Scholar vs. Fulbright U.S. Specialist Program: What is the Difference?
The session will provide an overview of two key Fulbright programs that support international academic collaboration: the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program and the Fulbright U.S. Specialist Program. It will clarify how the programs differ in purpose, structure, and expectations, while also highlighting points of overlap. Faculty and professional staff interested in global engagement will learn how each opportunity aligns with different goals, timelines, and professional trajectories. Whether you are seeking a longer-term academic engagement abroad or hoping to contribute your expertise through a short-term, high-impact project, this session will help you determine which Fulbright pathway best fits your interests.
Presenter:
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs, (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser.
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Film Screening of Green Border/Zielona Granica (2023, dir. Agnieszka Holland)
Join Fulbright Visiting Scholar Aleksandra Urzędowska and Joanna Kuikelka-Blaser, Director of Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, for a screening of Green Border/Zielona Granica and discussion. The film explores the migrant crisis at the Poland and Belarus border - an ongoing crisis in the heart of the old-growth Białowieża Forest. Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland’s film has been met with international critical acclaim and awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 80th Venice International Film Festival.
"In the treacherous and swampy forests that make up the so called 'green border' between Belarus and Poland, refugees from the Middle East and Africa trying to reach the European Union are trapped in a geopolitical crisis cynically engineered by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. In an attempt to provoke Europe, refugees are lured to the border by propaganda promising easy passage to the EU. Pawns in this hidden war, the lives of Julia, a newly minted activist who has given up her comfortable life, Jan, a young border guard, and a Syrian family intertwine. 30 years after Europa Europa, three-time Oscar Nominee Agnieszka Holland’s poignant new feature Zielona Granica opens our eyes, speaks to the heart, and challenges us to reflect on the moral choices that fall to ordinary people every day." – La Biennale di Venezia
Presenters:
- Aleksandra Urzędowska, assistant professor, Department of Journalism and Visual Communication, Pontifical University of John Paul, Krakow (2026 Slavic Fulbright Scholar, Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures, The Ohio State University)
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser. This event is co-hosted with the Center for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies.
Tuesday, March 24
1 - 2 p.m.
The Fulbright Specialist Program provides U.S. citizens who are established professionals or academics and possess expertise in qualifying disciplines with the opportunity to engage in short-term (2-6 week) project-based exchanges at host institutions around the globe. This information session will include an in-depth look at the program and an overview of topics such as eligibility requirements; benefits for participating Specialists; application process. Fulbright Specialist Program staff will be available to answer attendee questions. You will also hear from Ohio State program alumni, Brendan Crowell and Gönül Kaletunç, about their experiences serving as Fulbright Specialists.
Panelists:
- Amirah Nelson, senior outreach officer - Fulbright Specialist Program, World Learning
- Brendan Crowell, assistant professor, School of Earth Sciences (Fulbright U. S. Specialist award to Ecuador)
- Gönül Z. Kaletunç, professor, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (Fulbright U.S. Specialist award to Italy)
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright Scholar to Germany)
Please register for this session and for more information contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser.
Wednesday, March 25
10 - 11 a.m.
Engaging with Fulbright Poland: Pathways for Undergraduate, Graduate, and Faculty Scholars
hear directly from the Polish‑U.S. Fulbright Commission and learn about opportunities for U.S. citizens to teach, study, and conduct research in Poland—a modern country with a centuries‑old cultural heritage and scholarly tradition. Poland has a long history with Fulbright as the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to join the Fulbright Program in 1959. As the sixth most populous member of the European Union, Poland offers more than 400 diverse higher‑education institutions and hosts a growing international student community representing over 170 countries.
Fulbright Poland’s grants provide opportunities to advance culture and science through engagement with leading universities, international scientific institutes such as the Polish Academy of Sciences, government agencies, cultural and medical institutions, and non‑governmental research organizations. Paulina Kubylis and Aleksandra Szaniawska from the Polish‑U.S. Fulbright Commission will offer an overview of Polish‑U.S. Fulbright Programs, and you will also hear from recent Ohio State Fulbright Poland grantees—Sofia Bachman, Alyssa Sharp—and from Aleksandra Urzedowska, the current Polish Fulbright Slavic Scholar at Ohio State. We will also share information about resources and support available to Ohio State faculty and student applicants.
Panelists:
- Paulina Kubylis, Senior Program Officer (U.S. Scholar/Student Programs), Polish-U.S. Fulbright Commission
- Aleksandra Szaniawska, Senior Promotion and New Media Officer and EducationUSA Adviser, Polish-U.S. Fulbright Commission
- Aleksandra Urzedowska, assistant professor, Department of Journalism and Visual Communication, Pontifical University of John Paul, Krakow (2026 Slavic Fulbright Scholar, Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures, The Ohio State University)
- Sofia Bachman, PhD candidate, Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures (2024-2025 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Research Award to the University of Łódź, Poland)
- Alyssa Sharp, Department of Teaching and Learning, (EHE’23). (2023-2024 Fulbright U.S. Student Program ETA award to Poland)
Moderator:
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser.
2 - 3 p.m.
IIE Webinar: Fulbright U.S. Scholar Opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa
The Fulbright Scholar Program offers 380+ opportunities for U.S. citizens to teach, research and carry out professional projects in 130+ nations around the world. This webinar will highlight awards offerings in the Middle East and North Africa region for the 2027-2028 competition. We will present program details, showcase select awards, and answer your questions live. Please register.
3 - 4 p.m.
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Peer Review: Perspective of the Reviewers
The Fulbright Scholar Program offers 380+ opportunities for U.S. citizens to teach, research and carry out professional projects in 130+ nations around the world. This webinar will highlight awards offerings in the Middle East and North Africa region for the 2027-2028 competition. We will present program details, showcase select awards, and answer your questions live. Please register.
The peer review process—a hallmark of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program—ensures that applications are evaluated according to rigorous academic, scholarly, and professional standards. The Institute of International Education (IIE) coordinates this process, including the assignment of applications to peer review committees. Applications recommended during peer review are subsequently considered by the host country, the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
This session offers an opportunity to learn about the peer review process and to gain insight into how applications are evaluated. Participants will also meet Ohio State faculty members who are Fulbright alumni and have served on the national peer review committee for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.
Panelists:
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
- Ivo Herzog, professor, Department of Mathematics, Ohio State Lima (Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to Czech Republic)
- Jeannie Simmons, director, Global Education, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Taiwan)
- Michael Vuolo, professor, Department of Sociology (Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to France, Croatia, and Portugal)
Please register for this session. For more information, please contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser.
Graduate students
Monday, March 23
1 - 2 p.m.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program Information Session
Undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent alumni are welcome to join us to learn more about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which funds up to a year abroad to conduct research, engage in a program of study, or teach English. Students and alumni from all disciplines and levels of study are encouraged to attend for an overview of the awards, eligibility, selection criteria, and application process.
Presenter:
- Louise Ling Edwards, Program Coordinator, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Louise Ling Edwards.
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Film Screening of Green Border/Zielona Granica (2023, dir. Agnieszka Holland)
Join Fulbright Visiting Scholar Aleksandra Urzędowska and Joanna Kuikelka-Blaser, Director of Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, for a screening of Green Border/Zielona Granica and discussion. The film explores the migrant crisis at the Poland and Belarus border - an ongoing crisis in the heart of the old-growth Białowieża Forest. Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland’s film has been met with international critical acclaim and awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 80th Venice International Film Festival.
"In the treacherous and swampy forests that make up the so called 'green border' between Belarus and Poland, refugees from the Middle East and Africa trying to reach the European Union are trapped in a geopolitical crisis cynically engineered by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. In an attempt to provoke Europe, refugees are lured to the border by propaganda promising easy passage to the EU. Pawns in this hidden war, the lives of Julia, a newly minted activist who has given up her comfortable life, Jan, a young border guard, and a Syrian family intertwine. 30 years after Europa Europa, three-time Oscar Nominee Agnieszka Holland’s poignant new feature Zielona Granica opens our eyes, speaks to the heart, and challenges us to reflect on the moral choices that fall to ordinary people every day." – La Biennale di Venezia
Presenters:
- Aleksandra Urzędowska, assistant professor, Department of Journalism and Visual Communication, Pontifical University of John Paul, Krakow (2026 Slavic Fulbright Scholar, Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures, The Ohio State University)
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser. This event is co-hosted with the Center for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies.
Tuesday, March 24
10 - 11 a.m.
Global Health in Action: Fulbright-Fogarty Public Health Fellowship Award
The Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowship (offered through a partnership between the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the Fogarty International Center of the U.S. National Institutes of Health) supports professional and graduate students in conducting mentored, year-long global health research at international partner institutions. The program is designed for applicants seeking immersive research experiences that integrate scientific inquiry, cross-cultural engagement, and capacity-building in global health settings. For the 2026–2027 application cycle, fellowship sites were offered in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Ghana, Malawi, Uganda, Nepal, Ecuador, Jamaica, and Peru.
Presenters
- Lorraine S. Wallace, PhD, associate professor of Biomedical Education, College of Medicine
- Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Moldova (2010) and North Macedonia (2023).
- Fulbright U.S. Specialist to Vietnam (2026).
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program Fulbright-Fogarty Program National Screening Committee member (2023–2025)
- Louise Ling Edwards, program coordinator, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs
Please register for this session and for more information contact Louise Edwards.
2 - 3 p.m.
Fulbrighter Experiences Abroad Panel: Graduate Study and Independent Research
Join Fulbright U.S. Student Program awardees who are currently or have recently participated in Fulbright Study/Research Grants to attend graduate school abroad or conduct independent research. Learn about their experiences on their Fulbright grants including their successes, challenges, and the ways they have connected with global communities.
Presenters:
- Sofia Bachman, Fulbright U.S. Student to Poland. Study/Research Award Grantee
- Melwan Izem, Fulbright U.S. Student to France. Study/Research Award
- Zach Lewis, Fulbright U.S. Student to UK Royal Veterinary College. Study/Research Award
Moderator:
- Louise Ling Edwards, program coordinator, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs
Please register for this session and for more information contact Louise Edwards.
Wednesday, March 25
9 - 10 a.m.
English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Fulbrighter Experiences Abroad Panel
Join Fulbright U.S. Student Program English Teaching Assistants who are currently abroad to learn about their experiences on their Fulbright grants including their successes, challenges, and the ways they have connected with global communities.
Presenters:
- Joshua Jeyandran, Fulbright U.S. English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Taiwan
- Elyse Reed, Fulbright U.S. English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Romania
- Rachel Simroth, Fulbright U.S. English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Turkey
- Johnae Spain, Fulbright U.S. English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Azerbaijan
Moderator:
- Louise Ling Edwards, program coordinator, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs
Please register for this session and for more information contact Louise Edwards.
10 - 11 a.m.
Engaging with Fulbright Poland: Pathways for Undergraduate, Graduate, and Faculty Scholars
hear directly from the Polish‑U.S. Fulbright Commission and learn about opportunities for U.S. citizens to teach, study, and conduct research in Poland—a modern country with a centuries‑old cultural heritage and scholarly tradition. Poland has a long history with Fulbright as the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to join the Fulbright Program in 1959. As the sixth most populous member of the European Union, Poland offers more than 400 diverse higher‑education institutions and hosts a growing international student community representing over 170 countries.
Fulbright Poland’s grants provide opportunities to advance culture and science through engagement with leading universities, international scientific institutes such as the Polish Academy of Sciences, government agencies, cultural and medical institutions, and non‑governmental research organizations. Paulina Kubylis and Aleksandra Szaniawska from the Polish‑U.S. Fulbright Commission will offer an overview of Polish‑U.S. Fulbright Programs, and you will also hear from recent Ohio State Fulbright Poland grantees—Sofia Bachman, Alyssa Sharp—and from Aleksandra Urzedowska, the current Polish Fulbright Slavic Scholar at Ohio State. We will also share information about resources and support available to Ohio State faculty and student applicants.
Panelists:
- Paulina Kubylis, Senior Program Officer (U.S. Scholar/Student Programs), Polish-U.S. Fulbright Commission
- Aleksandra Szaniawska, Senior Promotion and New Media Officer and EducationUSA Adviser, Polish-U.S. Fulbright Commission
- Aleksandra Urzedowska, assistant professor, Department of Journalism and Visual Communication, Pontifical University of John Paul, Krakow (2026 Slavic Fulbright Scholar, Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures, The Ohio State University)
- Sofia Bachman, PhD candidate, Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures (2024-2025 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Research Award to the University of Łódź, Poland)
- Alyssa Sharp, Department of Teaching and Learning, (EHE’23). (2023-2024 Fulbright U.S. Student Program ETA award to Poland)
Moderator:
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser.
Administrators and professional staff
Monday, March 23
11 a.m. - 12 noon
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Peer Review: Perspective of the Reviewers
The peer review process—a hallmark of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program—ensures that applications are evaluated according to rigorous academic, scholarly, and professional standards. The Institute of International Education (IIE) coordinates this process, including the assignment of applications to peer review committees. Applications recommended during peer review are subsequently considered by the host country, the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
This session offers an opportunity to learn about the peer review process and to gain insight into how applications are evaluated. Participants will also meet Ohio State faculty members who are Fulbright alumni and have served on the national peer review committee for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.
Panelists:
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
- Andrew Cruse, AIA, associate professor of Architecture, Knowlton School of Architecture (Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to Australia)
- Michael Vuolo, professor, Department of Sociology (Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to France, Croatia, and Portugal)
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser.
2 - 3 p.m.
Fulbright U.S. Scholar vs. Fulbright U.S. Specialist Program: What is the Difference?
The session will provide an overview of two key Fulbright programs that support international academic collaboration: the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program and the Fulbright U.S. Specialist Program. It will clarify how the programs differ in purpose, structure, and expectations, while also highlighting points of overlap. Faculty and professional staff interested in global engagement will learn how each opportunity aligns with different goals, timelines, and professional trajectories. Whether you are seeking a longer-term academic engagement abroad or hoping to contribute your expertise through a short-term, high-impact project, this session will help you determine which Fulbright pathway best fits your interests.
Presenter:
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs, (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser.
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Film Screening of Green Border/Zielona Granica (2023, dir. Agnieszka Holland)
Join Fulbright Visiting Scholar Aleksandra Urzędowska and Joanna Kuikelka-Blaser, Director of Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, for a screening of Green Border/Zielona Granica and discussion. The film explores the migrant crisis at the Poland and Belarus border - an ongoing crisis in the heart of the old-growth Białowieża Forest. Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland’s film has been met with international critical acclaim and awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 80th Venice International Film Festival.
"In the treacherous and swampy forests that make up the so called 'green border' between Belarus and Poland, refugees from the Middle East and Africa trying to reach the European Union are trapped in a geopolitical crisis cynically engineered by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. In an attempt to provoke Europe, refugees are lured to the border by propaganda promising easy passage to the EU. Pawns in this hidden war, the lives of Julia, a newly minted activist who has given up her comfortable life, Jan, a young border guard, and a Syrian family intertwine. 30 years after Europa Europa, three-time Oscar Nominee Agnieszka Holland’s poignant new feature Zielona Granica opens our eyes, speaks to the heart, and challenges us to reflect on the moral choices that fall to ordinary people every day." – La Biennale di Venezia
Presenters:
- Aleksandra Urzędowska, assistant professor, Department of Journalism and Visual Communication, Pontifical University of John Paul, Krakow (2026 Slavic Fulbright Scholar, Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures, The Ohio State University)
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser. This event is co-hosted with the Center for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies.
Tuesday, March 24
1 - 2 p.m.
The Fulbright Specialist Program provides U.S. citizens who are established professionals or academics and possess expertise in qualifying disciplines with the opportunity to engage in short-term (2-6 week) project-based exchanges at host institutions around the globe. This information session will include an in-depth look at the program and an overview of topics such as eligibility requirements; benefits for participating; application process. Fulbright Specialist Program staff will be available to answer attendee questions. You will also hear from Ohio State program alumni, Brendan Crowell and Gönül Kaletunç, about their experiences serving as Fulbright Specialists.
Panelists:
- Amirah Nelson, senior outreach officer, Fulbright Specialist Program, World Learning
- Brendan Crowell, assistant professor, School of Earth Sciences (Fulbright U. S. Specialist award to Ecuador)
- Gönül Z. Kaletunç, professor, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (Fulbright U.S. Specialist award to Italy)
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
Please register for this session and for more information contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser.
Wednesday, March 25
3 - 4 p.m.
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Peer Review: Perspective of the Reviewers
The peer review process—a hallmark of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program—ensures that applications are evaluated according to rigorous academic, scholarly, and professional standards. The Institute of International Education (IIE) coordinates this process, including the assignment of applications to peer review committees. Applications recommended during peer review are subsequently considered by the host country, the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
This session offers an opportunity to learn about the peer review process and to gain insight into how applications are evaluated. Participants will also meet Ohio State faculty members who are Fulbright alumni and have served on the national peer review committee for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.
Panelists:
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
- Ivo Herzog, professor, Department of Mathematics, Ohio State Lima (Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to Czech Republic)
- Jeannie Simmons, director, Global Education, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Taiwan)
- Michael Vuolo, professor, Department of Sociology (Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to France, Croatia, and Portugal)
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser.
Undergraduate students
Monday, March 23
1 - 2 p.m.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program Information Session
Undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent alumni are welcome to join us to learn more about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which funds up to a year abroad to conduct research, engage in a program of study, or teach English. Students and alumni from all disciplines and levels of study are encouraged to attend for an overview of the awards, eligibility, selection criteria, and application process.
Presenter:
- Louise Ling Edwards, Program Coordinator, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Louise Ling Edwards.
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Film Screening of Green Border/Zielona Granica (2023, dir. Agnieszka Holland)
Join Fulbright Visiting Scholar Aleksandra Urzędowska and Joanna Kuikelka-Blaser, Director of Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, for a screening of Green Border/Zielona Granica and discussion. The film explores the migrant crisis at the Poland and Belarus border - an ongoing crisis in the heart of the old-growth Białowieża Forest. Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland’s film has been met with international critical acclaim and awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 80th Venice International Film Festival.
"In the treacherous and swampy forests that make up the so called 'green border' between Belarus and Poland, refugees from the Middle East and Africa trying to reach the European Union are trapped in a geopolitical crisis cynically engineered by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. In an attempt to provoke Europe, refugees are lured to the border by propaganda promising easy passage to the EU. Pawns in this hidden war, the lives of Julia, a newly minted activist who has given up her comfortable life, Jan, a young border guard, and a Syrian family intertwine. 30 years after Europa Europa, three-time Oscar Nominee Agnieszka Holland’s poignant new feature Zielona Granica opens our eyes, speaks to the heart, and challenges us to reflect on the moral choices that fall to ordinary people every day." – La Biennale di Venezia
Presenters:
- Aleksandra Urzędowska, assistant professor, Department of Journalism and Visual Communication, Pontifical University of John Paul, Krakow (2026 Slavic Fulbright Scholar, Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures, The Ohio State University)
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser. This event is co-hosted with the Center for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies.
Tuesday, March 24
2 - 3 p.m.
Fulbrighter Experiences Abroad Panel: Graduate Study and Independent Research
Join Fulbright U.S. Student Program awardees who are currently or have recently participated in Fulbright Study/Research Grants to attend graduate school abroad or conduct independent research. Learn about their experiences on their Fulbright grants including their successes, challenges, and the ways they have connected with global communities.
Presenters:
- Sofia Bachman, Fulbright U.S. Student to Poland. Study/Research Award Grantee
- Melwan Izem, Fulbright U.S. Student to France. Study/Research Award
- Zach Lewis, Fulbright U.S. Student to UK Royal Veterinary College. Study/Research Award
Moderator:
- Louise Ling Edwards, program coordinator, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs
Please register for this session and for more information contact Louise Edwards.
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Imagine Your Fulbright Future: Summer Workshops & Benefits of Experience Abroad
IN PERSON: Kuhn House, Room 100
Join Associate Professor of History Thomas McDow to consider the benefits of going abroad, find out about Professor McDow’s 6-week Summer Fellowship Writing Workshops for Fulbright applicants, and hear from Ohio State Fulbright semifinalists.
Presenters:
- Thomas McDow, associate professor of History, College of Arts and Sciences
- Louise Ling Edwards, program coordinator, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs
Please register for this session and for more information contact Louise Ling Edwards.
Wednesday, March 25
9 - 10 a.m.
English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Fulbrighter Experiences Abroad Panel
Join Fulbright U.S. Student Program English Teaching Assistants who are currently abroad to learn about their experiences on their Fulbright grants including their successes, challenges, and the ways they have connected with global communities.
Presenters:
- Joshua Jeyandran, Fulbright U.S. English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Taiwan
- Elyse Reed, Fulbright U.S. English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Romania
- Rachel Simroth, Fulbright U.S. English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Turkey
- Johnae Spain, Fulbright U.S. English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Azerbaijan
Moderator:
- Louise Ling Edwards, program coordinator, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs
Please register for this session and for more information contact Louise Edwards.
10 - 11 a.m.
Engaging with Fulbright Poland: Pathways for Undergraduate, Graduate, and Faculty Scholars
hear directly from the Polish‑U.S. Fulbright Commission and learn about opportunities for U.S. citizens to teach, study, and conduct research in Poland—a modern country with a centuries‑old cultural heritage and scholarly tradition. Poland has a long history with Fulbright as the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to join the Fulbright Program in 1959. As the sixth most populous member of the European Union, Poland offers more than 400 diverse higher‑education institutions and hosts a growing international student community representing over 170 countries.
Fulbright Poland’s grants provide opportunities to advance culture and science through engagement with leading universities, international scientific institutes such as the Polish Academy of Sciences, government agencies, cultural and medical institutions, and non‑governmental research organizations. Paulina Kubylis and Aleksandra Szaniawska from the Polish‑U.S. Fulbright Commission will offer an overview of Polish‑U.S. Fulbright Programs, and you will also hear from recent Ohio State Fulbright Poland grantees—Sofia Bachman, Alyssa Sharp—and from Aleksandra Urzedowska, the current Polish Fulbright Slavic Scholar at Ohio State. We will also share information about resources and support available to Ohio State faculty and student applicants.
Panelists:
- Paulina Kubylis, Senior Program Officer (U.S. Scholar/Student Programs), Polish-U.S. Fulbright Commission
- Aleksandra Szaniawska, Senior Promotion and New Media Officer and EducationUSA Adviser, Polish-U.S. Fulbright Commission
- Aleksandra Urzedowska, assistant professor, Department of Journalism and Visual Communication, Pontifical University of John Paul, Krakow (2026 Slavic Fulbright Scholar, Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures, The Ohio State University)
- Sofia Bachman, PhD candidate, Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures (2024-2025 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Research Award to the University of Łódź, Poland)
- Alyssa Sharp, Department of Teaching and Learning, (EHE’23). (2023-2024 Fulbright U.S. Student Program ETA award to Poland)
Moderator:
- Joanna Kukielka-Blaser, director, Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays Programs, Office of International Affairs (Fulbright U.S. Scholar IEA award to Germany)
Please register for this session and for more information, please contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser.