Howard University celebrates another milestone in global academic achievement as six of its distinguished graduates have been awarded the prestigious 2025–2026 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants. These new scholars will travel to six different countries to teach, conduct research, and pursue graduate study, marking another chapter in the university’s enduring legacy of leadership in international education and cultural exchange.

The 2025–2026 Fulbright cohort from Howard includes:

Courtney Bartlette – English Teaching Assistant Award, Costa Rica

Diane Fakinlede – Open Study/Research Award, Denmark

Ananya Hota – Open Study/Research Award, Germany

Ariella Williams – English Teaching Assistant Award, Colombia

Ann Laurie M. Pierre – French Government English Teaching Assistant Award, France

Ellis Walton – London School of Economics and Political Science Award, United Kingdom

These six join more than 165 Howard Fulbright alumni, a legacy that underscores the university’s commitment to fostering academic excellence and global citizenship. Howard has also hosted over 40 international Fulbright scholars, further enhancing its role as a hub for international academic exchange. In 2023, Howard was named a Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader by the U.S. Department of State, one of only 19 historically Black colleges and universities to earn the honor.

Central to the university’s ongoing Fulbright success is the ACE Scholars Program (Awards, Competitions, and External Scholarships), an initiative that identifies and supports high-achieving students in applying for competitive national and international fellowships. Through one-on-one mentorship, application guidance, and confidence-building resources, ACE has empowered Howard students to win not only Fulbright grants but also fellowships such as the Truman, Marshall, Luce, Pickering, Schwarzman, and Beinecke awards.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program — sponsored by the U.S. Department of State — has supported more than 400,000 students, scholars, and professionals from over 160 countries in pursuing study, research, and teaching abroad. Among its alumni are Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and world leaders.

Courtney Bartlette, a 2024 Howard University graduate with a degree in public relations and a minor in English, has been awarded a Fulbright grant to serve as an English teaching assistant in Costa Rica. Inspired by a study abroad experience there, she has since worked as a bilingual program assistant at the Latin American Youth Center and taught English in Mallorca, Spain, through the NALCAP program. Courtney is passionate about cultural exchange and plans to pursue a career in community outreach and cross-cultural engagement.

The program’s impact is clearly reflected in the accomplishments of scholars like Diane Fakinlede, a summa cum laude biology graduate and 2024 Astronaut Scholar. Fakinlede, who studied abroad in London during her junior year, will now continue her scientific pursuits at Aarhus University in Denmark. There, she will investigate the role of protein aggregation in immune cell activation and its potential link to Parkinson’s disease. She hopes to immerse herself in Danish society and explore neuroscience research hubs across the country.

Ananya Hota, a recent Howard University graduate with a B.S. in biology and minors in chemistry, Latin, and psychology, is a Barry Goldwater Scholar with research experience at MIT, Yale, and UW–Madison. She served as chapter president of the American Society for Microbiology, editor-in-chief of the "Ukweli" Research Journal, and co-founded the "Science Hertz" podcast. Passionate about mentoring and STEM equity, she supports underrepresented high school students through a national nonprofit. Ananya is also a science columnist, Latin enthusiast, Girl Scout troop co-leader, and trivia lover.

Ariella Williams, a recent Howard University graduate with dual degrees in Spanish and interdisciplinary studies, has been awarded a 2025–2026 Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Colombia. Her passion for cultural exchange was shaped by study abroad and internship experiences in Colombia, South Africa, and Chile through the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center and the Patricia Roberts Harris Fellowship. In 2027, she will serve in the Peace Corps as a maternal and child health volunteer in Guatemala. Committed to diplomacy and equity, Ariella aspires to become a U.S. foreign diplomat focused on uplifting global, Afro-descendant, and marginalized communities.

Ann Laurie M. Pierre, a biology graduate and future medical student, will teach English in a suburb of Paris as part of the Fulbright/TAPIF English Teaching Assistant Program. She plans to strengthen her French fluency, expand her nonprofit Rooted Diaspora, and explore the intersection of education, medicine, and mentorship. Ann Laurie Pierre is a first-generation Haitian American and recent graduate of Howard University, where she earned a B.S. in biology with double minors in chemistry and Afro-American studies. She is a 2025–2026 Fulbright Program and TAPIF English Teaching Assistant in Paris, France, and will pursue a master's in strategic communication at Columbia University in Fall 2026 before attending medical school. Ann Laurie aspires to be a physician-scientist, philanthropist, global citizen, creative, and entrepreneur. She is a bone marrow donor, sickle cell awareness advocate, and menstrual equity fellow for an international nonprofit. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, fashion, social events, and travel.

Ellis Walton, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, earned his J.D. from Howard University School of Law and a B.A. in political science from Morehouse College, where he was actively involved in public service and environmental advocacy through student government, an internship with Rep. John Lewis, and a fellowship with the Howard Law Environmental Justice Center. Now an environmental attorney in Chicago, he works to expand access to clean energy, protect clean air and water, and advance environmental justice policies. At the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), he will pursue an MSc in environmental policy and regulation with a focus on equitable governance and sustainable development, and he looks forward to learning from global perspectives, exploring the UK’s green spaces, and volunteering with local sustainability and food justice projects. After Fulbright, Ellis plans to continue shaping and implementing policies that advance environmental justice while mentoring the next generation of environmental leaders.

As Howard students continue to shape the world stage, the university remains a leading voice in higher education, international dialogue, and cultural diplomacy. With its Fulbright recipients leading the way, Howard upholds its motto: "Leadership, Excellence, Truth, and Service."

For more on the Fulbright Program, visit fulbrightprogram.org.
For more on the ACE Scholars Program at Howard University, visit ous.howard.edu/ace or bunchecenter.howard.edu.