The Fulbright Program has recognized Pomona College as one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of students and recent alumni selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
Established in 1946 and administered by the U.S. Department of State, the program provides participants with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad, with the aim of expanding perspectives and creating connections on a global level.
Fulbright alumni include heads of state and government, Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and MacArthur Fellows.
Eighteen Pomona students and recent alumni were selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the 2025-26 academic year. Because one of the awardees applied independently, Pomona’s official number was 17, placing the College in the number two spot, alongside Amherst, Bowdoin and Williams Colleges.
Skylar Nguyen ’25, an economics major, is serving as an English teaching assistant in Vietnam during her Fulbright year. She says the experience so far has been “life changing.”
“I have learned more about my Vietnamese culture while also having the opportunity to share my American culture with others,” says Nguyen. “I already find myself thinking about future opportunities to return to Vietnam and reconnect with my students.”
Alexandra Runnels ’25, a Russian and Eastern studies and linguistics major, is in Kazakhstan conducting research with bilingual Kazakhs on their experiences with nationalism, geopolitics and language choice. In her free time, she has been learning the qobyz, a bowed Kazahk folk instrument, and exploring cities in the south of the country.
Pomona has had the distinction of being on the list of top-producing baccalaureate institutions every year since the 2004-05 academic year, including being at the top of the list three times.
“Pomona’s continued recognition as a top Fulbright producer reflects both the exceptional caliber of our students and our deep institutional commitment to preparing them to engage meaningfully with an interconnected world,” says Kara Godwin, assistant vice president and chief global officer.
Jason Jeffrey, associate director of fellowships & career advising in the Career Development Office (CDO), coordinates the College’s support for Fulbright applicants. He says faculty advising for Fulbright applicants plays an important role in Pomona’s high number of awardees.
Applicants who submit a pre-application to Pomona are assigned a faculty advisor. That faculty member provides support throughout the Fulbright application process, primarily by giving feedback on application materials. Applicants also meet with a small faculty committee toward the end of the application process for an interview and to receive further feedback and a written endorsement.
Eli Protas ’25, an English major, will head to Panama in March to serve as an English teaching assistant. He says that his advisors provided him with “tough but essential advice” about narrowing the scope of his proposal.
“I am certain that this focusing of ideas was crucial in getting my application over the hump,” says Protas.
“The Pomona community supported me in countless ways throughout my application journey,” says Nguyen. “My peers, the students and staff at the Writing Center, fellowship-designated writing advisors, professors and my academic advisor all read my application and played a meaningful role in shaping my story.”
To learn about application timelines and get helpful advice, please visit the Pomona College Fulbright Handbook.