Five individuals, comprising of undergraduate students and faculty members, have been awarded the esteemed Fulbright Scholarship.
Lehigh University is proud to announce that five of its students and faculty members have been awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year. This marks the second-highest number of recipients for Lehigh, with the highest being six scholars in the 2018-19 cycle.
Among the recipients are Marissa Argen '25, a biology major with minors in Spanish & Hispanic Studies and Psychology, who will serve as an English teaching assistant in Spain. Marissa fell in love with Spanish culture after studying abroad in Barcelona and applied for a Fulbright to learn more.
Armando Quiroz '27 Ed.D., a doctoral student in Educational Leadership, will conduct research in the Philippines on bridging the gap for world languages teachers in instructional mismatch contexts. Armando's research involves collaboration with the dean of the College of Education and the chair of the department of Educational Leadership at the University of the Philippines and Ateneo University, respectively.
Cece Garvey '25 will travel to Paraguay to serve as an English teaching assistant and conduct research on Paraguayan author representation and the culture of indigenous languages.
Dork Sahagian, professor of Earth and environmental sciences, will teach environmental science at the American University of Armenia and conduct volcanology research on obsidian rock hosted by the Armenian National Academy of Sciences. Dork has been a professor at Lehigh for more than 20 years and has written textbooks for the course "Introduction to Environmental Science."
Natasha Vermaak, associate professor of mechanical engineering, will conduct research at the intersection of mechanics, materials, and 3D printing in France.
The Fulbright Scholarship program is a U.S. government-sponsored international academic exchange program that aims to foster mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries. Lehigh University has a strong history with the Fulbright Scholarship program, dating back more than 20 years. The university is well-respected in the program due to its dedication to hosting foreign Fulbright scholars and submitting prestigious students for candidacy.
However, the Fulbright Program is currently facing significant challenges due to political interference at the federal level. In June 2025, all but one member of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board resigned, citing "unlawful" political interference by the Trump administration, including ideological screening of applicants and delays or blockages of awards for the 2025-26 academic year. This political interference has raised concerns about the program’s integrity and future, as it politicizes award decisions based on candidates’ views on climate change, race, and gender.
Despite these challenges, the program continues to operate, as universities are still receiving and offering Fulbright awards, although with some delays and uncertainty affecting recipients’ decisions. For example, as of June 2025, some students have been offered English Teaching Assistantships (ETAs) and research placements, though announcements are delayed compared to prior years. Faculty at institutions such as NC State remain engaged, with Fulbright Scholar applications open for the 2026-27 academic year.
Financially, the program experienced disruption earlier in 2025 due to a funding freeze on State Department programs initiated by the Trump administration, affecting thousands of Fulbright scholars. However, universities continue to support and host scholars, reflecting ongoing, albeit strained, operations.
In summary, the Fulbright Program remains operational but under political pressure and uncertainty following the mass resignation of its oversight board and federal funding disruptions. The program’s future depends on resolving these governance and political challenges while sustaining funding and institutional support.
- Lehigh University's five Fulbright Scholars for the 2025-26 academic year will engage in diverse activities, including research, community engagement, and teaching across campus, engineering, education, science, and other disciplines.
- Armando Quiroz, a doctoral student, will bridge the gap for world languages teachers through research in the Philippines, collaborating with esteemed faculty members from the University of the Philippines and Ateneo University.
- Cece Garvey will serve as an English teaching assistant in Paraguay, focusing on Paraguayan author representation and the culture of indigenous languages. This experience augments her education-and-self-development and personal-growth.
- Dork Sahagian, a professor with over 20 years of service at Lehigh, will teach environmental science and conduct volcanology research at the American University of Armenia, contributing to the university's campus and scientific culture.
- Natasha Vermaak, a mechanical engineering associate professor, will research the intersection of mechanics, materials, and 3D printing in France, reinforcing her specialized education and expanding international scientific collaboration.
