CofC Grads Receive Prestigious Fulbright Awards

Three College of Charleston alumni are packing their bags and heading abroad after receiving prestigious awards through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.  

This international exchange initiative offers recent graduates, graduate students and young professionals opportunities to conduct research, further their studies or teach English abroad. The program aims to support academic endeavors while building cross-cultural connections and supporting meaningful international experiences. 

Jack Watson ’24, who majored in international studies and French and Francophone studies, and Rhiannon Wilkinson ’25, who majored in international studies and German, were named English teaching assistants. Madison McKnight ’25, a graduate of the international studies and history programs who minored in Spanish, received a study/research award to the University of Glasgow to complete a graduate program in Scottish history.  

“I’m thrilled that Jack, Madison and Rhi were selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program,” says Sidney Woram, associate director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards (NCA). “Each of them put a tremendous amount of work and reflection into their application. What is more, they were all very thoughtful and intentional about the country they applied to and their reasons for wanting to engage with, and learn from, their host community. I’m so pleased that Fulbright saw not only the merits of their applications, but also their abiding commitment to fostering cultural exchange.” 

Broadening Horizons

Watson is eager to bring his recent teaching experience into his Fulbright assistantship. After graduating in 2024, he spent eight months in Paris teaching English to elementary students. In October, he’ll begin his 10-month teaching assistantship at the National Institute for Vocational Training in Algiers, Algeria. 

“I’m really excited for this experience in Algeria because it’s quite complementary,” he says. “I’ll be teaching I think university level students, so that’s going to be a change because I’m used to working with first graders, which is a whole different thing. I’m excited to be able to talk about more complex issues.” 

Watson enjoys the cross-cultural connections he’s made through teaching and believes the value of teaching extends well beyond the classroom.  

“Teaching is an incredibly helpful skill – learning classroom management and being able to deliver information in a concise way,” he says.  

His Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship connects to his previous experience in more way than one, and he hopes his experiences abroad will inform his goal to work on subjects of migration in the future.  

“As someone who studies French and Arabic, I think it’ll be interesting to see the connections between” the languages, he says. “Algeria was a former colony of France, so I want to understand the post-colonial environment a bit more … in an urban aspect, but also what it looks like in terms of language politics.” 

Though North African countries traditionally teach French in higher education, Watson explains, younger people are pushing to learn and speak English more. 

“I’m going to be right in the midst of that, and I think I’m going to learn so much,” he says. 

Diplomacy in the Classroom 

Wilkinson has traveled to many corners of the Earth – from Iceland, where she was born, and South Korea to Germany and the Netherlands – thanks to her dad’s career in the Air Force.  

She lived with her family in a small German town for about eight years, which sparked her interest in the German language and prompted her to study abroad her junior year.  

In September, she returns to Germany, where she’ll teach primarily in STEM-related classrooms at a gymnasium school, a secondary school which serves students ages 10 and older who intend to go to a university. 

“I always say diplomacy begins in the classroom, and I think connections start there as well,” Wilkinson says. “I feel really empowered by the fact that I can go into a German classroom as an American and establish connections with students and hopefully show them the value in language learning and cross-cultural understanding, forging those relationships and connections with one another.” 

She wants to work in foreign service one day and strongly believes that learning to teach is an essential, transferrable skill.  

“The best way to learn how to communicate is actually being at the front of the classroom and trying out different strategies, working with different students who have different learning styles, different personalities, and bringing that to a broader setting where you’re working on hot-topic issues and trying to break through political gridlock in a diplomatic career,” she says. 

Exploring the Past 

McKnight will embark on her Fulbright journey at Scotland’s University of Glasgow, where she will study to earn a master’s degree in Scottish history.  

“During my time as an undergrad, I was so passionate about Scottish history,” she says. “It’s kind of been my thing, what I’ve been studying, this whole time.” 

During her sophomore year, she pursued an independent study on early modern Scotland and spent the following year studying at Scotland’s University of Stirling. 

Though her collegiate studies deepened her interest, McKnight says her fascination with the subject began in high school when she completed the international baccalaureate program. She opted to write her extended essay on the Scottish independence movement, which was receiving a resurgence of support at the time because of Brexit. 

“It got me thinking, Wait a minute, why are Scotland and England united to this day?” she says. “That’s when I kind of landed on the union of the crowns, so my passion and research has been driven by that ever since I was like 17 or 18. I knew coming into college that’s what I wanted to pursue for my bachelor’s essay.” 

McKnight sees her continued studies leading to a doctorate in the field, so one day she can teach the subject at a university level.  

But she’s also thrilled to return to a country she loves. 

“I’ve missed it so much,” she says. “I love the people, the nature. … I’m very excited to go back and explore more, but also the whole opportunity to meet new people and have new experiences.” 

Turning Ambition Into Action 

Applying for nationally competitive awards can be intimidating, the alums agreed, but they offered advice for students considering applications, including using the resources available through the NCA.  

“Just go for it,” says McKnight. “The worst that can happen is you don’t get it, but it’s going to teach you something along the way.” 

Watson previously received a Critical Language Scholarship, which he applied for through the NCA, and says their guidance was incredibly helpful. 

“I really think it changed my CofC experience and also my life,” he says. “Access to that office is so incredible. The workshopping you’re able to do it great.” 

The NCA is available to all students, including freshman and sophomores, whether they’re looking for opportunities or preparing to apply for awards as juniors and seniors. 

“Our office is here to help students at every stage of completing a fellowships application, including the discovery phase, when students are exploring which awards may be the right fit for them, either now or in the future,” Woram says. 

Wilkinson also emphasized the importance of working with the NCA on her Fulbright application. 

“Dr. Woram is probably my favorite person,” she says. “She helped me so much with that application, and it was truly inspiring how much she believed in me, which is kind of why I think I ended up getting the award. Otherwise, I never would have thought I’d have a shot at something this competitive.”  

Wilkinson encouraged students to take a chance and apply for opportunities even if it seems daunting at first. 

“Put yourself out there and be 100% authentic,” she says. “Even if you don’t have prior experience in a field, if you have enough interest in it, then you have a shot of achieving something meaningful and working toward your goals.”