Clockwise from top left: Katie Hoang, Aesha John, Mia Vu, Michel Graham and Joshua
Kai
From faculty to staff to students, Texas Christian University is celebrating five
Horned Frogs who received Fulbright honors this year. The Fulbright program provides
students, scholars, scientists, professionals, teachers and artists with life-changing
opportunities to study, research and teach in over 160 countries and territories.
For 2026, three graduates, a faculty member and a staff member make up the diverse
group of disciplines representing TCU across the globe.
A Full-Circle Moment for Faculty
Aesha John, associate professor of social work in the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, was selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar for India to continue her research and
focus on the psychology of families with members who have intellectual and developmental
disabilities, such as autism, and parent-child relationships.
John said that she looks forward to continuing her research, which she first started
nearly three decades ago in India for her dissertation, and that this is a full-circle
moment.
“I look forward to learning from individuals with autism, their families and the professionals
who support them,” John said. “I am equally excited about the opportunity to teach
in Indian college classrooms, where I hope to both share my knowledge and learn from
students and faculty at my host institutions. The Fulbright experience is often described
as transformative by alumni, so I am excited to see what lies ahead.”
Fulbright Students from Vietnam to Ecuador
Also out of Harris College, as well as the AddRan College of Liberal Arts, Michel Graham ’26 is one of three TCU spring graduates who earned an English Teaching
Assistant Award. This honor places Fulbrighters in classrooms abroad to aid the local English teachers and serve
as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. Graham is a double major in speech-language pathology
and Spanish.
“As a Fulbright scholar, I will be living in Ecuador for the next school year, teaching
English,” Graham said. “I am very excited to have more cross-cultural experiences, where I get to share my culture and learn
more about the Ecuadorian culture.”
Graham said she believes that learning languages brings vulnerability and empowerment,
and she looks forward to bringing this to her students.
For Katie Hoang ’26, being named a Fulbright Scholar is especially meaningful because
it brings together parts of her identity, like her Vietnamese heritage, passion for
education and interest in cultural exchange. Hoang, a finance major in the Neeley School of Business and a John V. Roach Honors College student, is the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants and grew up hearing stories about
Vietnam from her family. She hopes to connect with students and local communities
through education, food and conversations about culture and economic development.
After completing the Fulbright program, Hoang plans to join Alpine Investors in Austin,
Texas, as a private equity analyst, which she believes will help deepen her cultural
identity and broaden her understanding of international markets and business.
Also from Roach Honors, Amelia (Mia) Vu ’26, is likewise heading to Vietnam, returning
to her family’s homeland. A double major in economics and Spanish, the AddRan alumna
understands firsthand the challenges of language barriers and identity, experiences
shaped by watching her immigrant family navigate life in the United States after leaving
Vietnam following the war. Through her work as a university economics tutor and volunteer
with Fort Worth’s International Newcomer Academy, she developed a passion for mentoring
multilingual students with empathy and patience.
“Receiving the Fulbright grant is an incredible honor for me,” Vu said. “I am so excited
to connect with my family’s cultural heritage and explore Vietnam. Growing up with
first-generation immigrant parents, I was able to see the power of language firsthand.
I hope to guide Vietnamese students through the arduous process of learning a new
language.”
TCU Staff Shaping Global Policy
Joshua Kai, university immigration officer and director of TCU’s International Services
Office, has been named a recipient of an International Education Administrators Award
designed for senior higher education professionals who shape policy, programs and
partnerships on their campuses. Kai will travel to Japan as part of a cohort, joining
a select group of higher education leaders chosen by the U.S. Department of State
and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
“This opportunity will allow me to engage with higher education leaders and institutions
in Japan to gain deeper insight into international education systems, global engagement
strategies and cross-cultural collaboration practices.”
The honor places Kai among a small number of administrators selected each year to
study how peer nations design and deliver international education at the institutional
and national levels. During his time abroad, Kai will visit universities and education
organizations across Japan, examining how Japanese institutions approach global strategy,
partnership-building and student and scholar mobility.
“I look forward to bringing those insights back to TCU to help strengthen support
for international students and scholars, foster institutional partnerships and contribute
to the university’s ongoing global engagement efforts,” Kai said.
About Fulbright
Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished
students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals with the opportunity to study,
teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people
connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include
62 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, 44 heads of state
or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and non-profit
sectors.