WASHINGTON – Howard University is proud to announce that two graduates - Nagea Kirkley (B.A. ‘23) and William Reed (B.A. ‘21) - have received Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the 2023–2024 academic year. Kirkley, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, will be a Fulbright English teaching assistant for Cote D’Ivoire and Reed, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, will be a Fulbright English teaching assistant for Spain.  

“On behalf of the entire Howard University community, I want to extend my sincerest congratulations to Nagea and William for earning this highly regarded honor,” said President Ben Vinson, III, Ph.D. “Their selection exemplifies their dedication to fostering global understanding and providing opportunity to communities around the world. I know I join so many others in saying how excited I am to see the positive contributions and impact these scholars will have on the world. forward  

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. exchange program, offering opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate studies, enhance their research and explore teaching in more than 140 countries worldwide. Recipients are selected based on academic and professional achievement, their record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields.  

Those selected for English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Programs are placed in classrooms to help teach the English language while assisting as cultural ambassadors for the United States. The age and academic level of the students vary by country, ranging from kindergarten to university. 

U.S. Fulbright Student Program Grant Recipients: 

Nagea Kirkley is an alumna of Howard University where she double majored in international affairs and community development and minored in French studies. She aspires to pursue her M.A. with the goal of becoming a community leader and international NGO Director. With a passionate focus on global development, education, and housing, she has taken positions to further the goals of safe and affordable housing with The Department of Urban Housing and Development, bringing products to developing markets as a Goldman Sachs Market Madness scholar, and promoting sustainable and eco-friendly urban development and education with the South African Institute for International Affairs. Now, as a Fulbright scholar, Nagea has taken on the role of community leader as an English Teaching Assistant at a public school. She also runs an English club and volunteers as an English counselor at a business called Update Consulting International as well as a fundraising and marketing coordinator for 2 NGOs in Côte D’Ivoire for the duration for her grant. 

William Reed graduated from the Howard University College of Arts and Sciences in 2021 with a B.A. in political science. While at Howard, he developed a passion for making education more equitable by serving in organizations such as the Men of George Washington Carver and the Howard University Alternative Spring Break program. After graduating from Howard, he moved to Houston, Texas to become a 5th-grade science and social studies teacher through the Teach for America, Americorps program. In the future, he plans to pursue law school and use his legal education to continue to help make K-12 and higher education more equitable in the United States. 

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