Diane Fakinlede, class of 2025 alum, will study neuroimmunol-
ogy as a Fulbright Scholars. (Photo Courtesy of Diane Fakin-
lede)
Ellis Walton submitted his application for the U.S. Fulbright Student Program two months before the deadline after months of daily edits. He is now one of the six Howard graduates that was awarded the U.S. Fulbright Student Program scholarship.
Walton graduated from the Howard University School of Law and will be taking his studies to the United Kingdom at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
“It’s not lost on me how significant this opportunity is for me, my family and the communities I hope to serve,” Walton said.
He is eager to share his experiences as a Black American from the South, he said, introducing others to the rich culture and history of his community.
This award allows each winner to study abroad outside of the U.S., continuing a record that includes over 165 Fulbright Howard alumni and recognition as a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader by the U.S. Department of State.
Recipients Ananya Hota, Ann Laurie M. Pierre, Ariella Williams, Courtney Barlette, Diane Fakinlede and Ellis Walton are preparing to take on their assigned countries to teach, study and engage among distinctive communities ranging from months to a full year depending on the program.
“While abroad in Paris, France, I plan to not only teach but also shadow doctors and scientists.
I am a big fashion enthusiast and even created a fashion design collection of my own, so being in one of the fashion capitals, I plan on getting the inside scoop of fashion,” Pierre said.
The award is highly competitive, with a total of approximately 2,100 recipients and acceptance rates below 10 percent in most countries. According to Theon Gruber Ford, associate director of the university’s ACE Scholars Program, the Fulbright Program is “one of the most prestigious international exchange opportunities available to U.S. citizens.”
The program recognizes academic excellence through grants and merit scholarships to support students pursuing international opportunities during their postgraduate studies. To be considered, applicants must submit personal essays, a statement of grant purpose, references and institutional endorsements.
Founded in 1946, the Fulbright program seeks to provide students with the opportunity to fulfill their continuous academic aspirations beyond those of their respective universities, with a strong focus on research and cultural exchange.
Fakinlede graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology, alongside minors in chemistry and psychology.
“Since the summer before my freshman year, I have always wanted to receive the Fulbright. I often doubted myself because I was not aware that I could ever receive something as prestigious as the Fulbright,” Fakinlede said.
With an interest in neuroscience and the help of her past mentor from University of Wisconsin-Madison in the previous year, Fakinlede was able to connect with a research mentor located in Denmark. She will continue her studies of neuroimmunology there with the help of the Fulbright scholarship.
In hopes of understanding Parkinson’s pathology, experiencing Danish culture and indulging in European fashion, Fakinlede knows what she has to offer.
“Being a Fulbright Scholar means the world to me, and I hope that I am able to show those in my community that dreams are possible.”
Pierre graduated as a biology major and double-minored in chemistry and Afro American studies. In September, she will head to Paris as an English teaching assistant, focusing on STEM.
“Being a part of the few who are making an impact worldwide is overwhelming yet reassuring that I can shoot for the stars,” Pierre said.
Pierre is a first-generation high school and college graduate. With previous residency in Boston, Haiti, and Washington, D.C., she seeks to add France to this list.
Pierre said she looks forward to learning the methods of medicine and healthcare. She also plans to launch her nonprofit, Rooted Diaspora Inc. and a fashion design collection in hopes of “bringing her pieces to life” in the fashion capital.
Williams, who graduated in May as a Spanish and interdisciplinary studies double major with a concentration in international affairs, is headed to a university in Barranquilla, Colombia, to also be an English teaching assistant.
With previous experience in Cali, Colombia, teaching English, Williams learned about the significance of having a native speaker in the classroom.
“It definitely does help when there are gaps that only a native speaker would really be able to articulate and keep things grounded in the modern context,” Williams said.
This opportunity will allow Williams to continue building international relationships while also gaining insights into issues related to bilingual education and lessons based on Colombian culture, she said.
Williams, who comes from a Puerto Rican and African American background, said she is honored to receive this award as she seeks to connect with individual communities, exploring different Afro-Colombian cultures.
With studies surrounding equitable strategies for environmental governance and sustainable development, Walton plans to utilize this scholarship to work towards improving environmental outcomes such as structural issues in marginalized communities.
Copy edited by Damenica Ellis