UNG named Fulbright top producer

Charlotte Sims is in South Korea today thanks in large part to the mentorship and encouragement of University of North Georgia (UNG) faculty and staff throughout her time at UNG and since her graduation.

Sims, a fall 2024 graduate with a degree in management, is preparing to serve as a Fulbright English teaching assistant (ETA) at an all-boys middle school. She applied at the suggestion of Dr. Jiyoung Daniel, an associate professor of Korean who saw teaching potential in Sims.

Then Dr. Anastasia Lin, director of the Nationally Competitive Scholarships (NCS) office, and Dr. Victoria Hightower, NCS associate director, coached her through the application process. In fact, Sims was successful in landing a Fulbright award on her second year of applying, showing her tenacity.

"They made me want to do big things, and they believed in me," said Sims, a Cleveland, Georgia, native. "I felt like I had people on my team."

That type of teamwork has led to UNG being named a top producer of Fulbright students for a ninth consecutive year. Released by the U.S. Department of State on Feb. 3, the 2025-26 list showed that UNG tied for third among 11 master's institutions to make the list with four selections.  

"Our Fulbright students are a perfect illustration of North Georgia roots and global reach," UNG President Michael Shannon said. "These students are proving that you can be from here and lead anywhere. These experiences are changing the trajectory of their families and helping them walk toward their purpose."

For Sims, the Fulbright model perfectly fits her personality.

"I have a very strong passion for meeting new people and finding ways to interact and connect," Sims said.

The Fulbright is a prestigious, highly competitive fellowship that enables recent graduates and graduate students to pursue research, earn a graduate degree or teach English overseas. It is designed to increase mutual understanding between U.S. citizens and residents of more than 160 foreign countries, according to the Fulbright website. 

Jessie Zinn, a spring 2025 graduate with a degree in history with teacher certification, is a Fulbright ETA in Bulgaria. She teaches English to students ranging from eighth grade to 12th grade.

She has taken Bulgarian language classes and spent time in the community through the many local traditional festivals. Zinn has been grateful for the chance to adjust to the norms of Bulgaria.

"It makes you more culturally aware," Zinn said. "It opens spaces of conversations where we find middle ground."

The time as a Fulbright ETA is giving her more tools, as well, for when she returns to the U.S. and plans to teach in Forsyth County or Hall County in Georgia. Bulgaria's proximity to other countries has also opened opportunities for excursions that Zinn has embraced.

"It makes me appreciate the world a little bit more," Zinn said. "There are so many things I can't understand until I see them. It's helped me grow so much as a person."

Lin and Hightower also mentored Zinn through her application process.

UNG now has 32 Fulbright selections in the five most recent academic years.

Tracy Amaya, a fall 2024 graduate with a degree in political science with a pre-law concentration, is an ETA in Spain. Amaya said one of her favorite parts thus far has been helping students experience "Global Classrooms," which is similar to the Model United Nations club she took part in at UNG. Her group has found success in competitions.

"I could not be prouder of my students. Seeing them well-prepared, excited and motivated was an incredibly rewarding experience for me," Amaya said.

She said she's more well-rounded and culturally competent thanks to her Fulbright experience, and she has also pushed through adversity.

"This experience has taught me that I can do hard things. If I had listened to that pestering voice in my head that told me that I was not a good applicant and I had no chance of being selected, I would not be where I am today," Amaya said. "I hope that this ability to adapt to difficult situations will continue to follow me throughout my life, especially in my career. I hope that my story encourages other students to take a chance on themselves and apply to awards and scholarships. I encourage students to take advantage of resources made available to them."

Lin, Hightower and Dr. Bibek Chand, associate professor of political science and international affairs, mentored Amaya through the Fulbright application.

"Our students want to see the world and make a positive impact, and Fulbright gives them a platform for these types of growth," Lin, who also serves as assistant vice president for Academic Affairs, said. "We know these experiences will shape them for the rest of their lives."

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs compiles the list of top producers, which is published annually in The Chronicle of Higher Education. 

Students interested in learning more about the Fulbright program should contact UNG's NCS office at ncs@ung.edu for more information.