Eva has recently graduated from New York University with a BA in Environmental Studies and minors in Business Studies and Hellenic Studies. Throughout her undergraduate career she has worked as a Sustainability Researcher for nonprofits, and as an intern for the NYC Department of Building’s Legal and Policy team as they implemented sustainable building laws. She was also the president of Earth Matters, the largest environmental organization on NYU’s campus. She has taken classes in NYU’s Hellenic Studies Department since her freshman year and participated in a six week study program in Athens during the summer of her sophomore year. These classes and her experience in Athens created a deep love for Greek culture and language, which she looks forward to exploring further during her time as an English Teaching Assistant. Eva has a passion for travel and cultural exchange of all kinds, and spent two semesters studying in Florence and in Berlin in her Sophomore and Junior years respectively. Eva worked as a Peer Advisor in Florence and as a Global Peer Mentor back in New York, to help other students have positive abroad experiences. She has also volunteered with We Speak NYC, a program that provides English lessons focused on public services to immigrants. It was through this program that she discovered the joy teaching English brought to her, and was inspired to apply to Fulbright to further that passion.

Faith Simonini graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2024 with a B.A. in Elementary Education and a minor in English. As a first generation college student, Faith has dedicated her educational practice to ensuring educational equality. She opened a non-profit food pantry with her family when she was 8 years old and has used that eye opening experience to guide her career. During her time in college, she served as the College of Education's Resident Academic Mentor. She acted as an ambassador for educators everywhere, showing incoming freshman what it means to be an educator, and guiding them through a challenging transition. When she is not teaching, Faith is volunteering at her local animal shelter, instructing animal yoga classes. Participants can do yoga with baby bunnies, kittens, and puppies, with all profits benefitting the animals. As a YTT200 certified yoga teacher, Faith wants to make yoga as accessible to the public as possible, hosting free classes at the local library to adults and children alike. As somebody who has never left New England, Faith believes that in order to become the best ESL teacher possible, she must also have an experience of being the cultural other. Fulbright/Athens College-HAEF English Teaching Assistant Award allows Faith to gain the cultural experience necessary in order to become a socially responsible educator. Athens College provides a unique experience with its connection to Forensic League activities. As her state's number one Forensic League debater, Faith is excited to be able to work with the team during her time in Greece.

Korrin Sheahan recently graduated with a Master's in Communication Science and Disorders from her alma mater, Florida State University. During her time at FSU, she discovered a passion for research while working with Dr. Michelle Therrien in the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Connect Lab, focusing on helping children with disabilities use AAC. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she contributed to various projects and completed her master's thesis on person-centered assessment and treatment planning for a young adult using AAC. The Fulbright ETA fellowship sparked her interest, as she has worked as a substitute teacher at a local elementary school, where she encouraged and motivated students to develop a love for learning. She eagerly anticipates her Fulbright experience in Greece, where she plans to immerse herself in the culture and apply her learnings to her future practice as a speech language pathologist. She aspires to create a foundation focused on a culturally responsive, person-centered approach to better serve students with communication disorders. Korrin is grateful for this opportunity to learn from the students, faculty, and fellows at Athens College and embark on a new adventure.

Lana recently graduated from Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs with a Master's in Public Administration concentrated on urban & social policy. She also received a B.A. in educational studies from Barnard College, where she student taught in several NYC public schools and conducted academic research regarding the racialization of immigrant youth in American schools. With deep roots in Durham, NC, Lana is passionate about supporting educational reforms which expand young people's ability to critically assess the world around them and create more just and joyful realities. Lana is excited to learn from the educators at Athens College and to immerse herself in the Greek culture and land that her family comes from.

In 2020, Leslie earned her B.A. in Elementary Education while also receiving a K-8 teaching certificate from the University of Washington. She has experience teaching first and second grade in Washington State public schools, and homeschooled first and fourth-grade students in California. Witnessing firsthand the effects that systemic inequalities have on students’ learning, Leslie decided to pursue a Master's Degree, which led her to Teachers College, Columbia University where she graduated in 2023 with an M.A. in Education Policy and Social Analysis, specializing in K-12 Policy and Education Law. While attending graduate school, Leslie worked on curriculum development for the Reading and Writing Project at Teachers College. She also gained valuable policy experience as an Education Leadership Data Analytics Affiliate where she was on a research team that analyzed school district equity policies to find patterns of strengths and areas of improvement. This research provided K-12 district officials with data used to inform decisions that promote greater equity and inclusivity, particularly for the most underrepresented students. Since completing graduate school, Leslie has taught at a public school in New York City that serves students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade. She is passionate about creating safe and inclusive learning environments that guide students to take risks, through social-emotional learning and by incorporating students’ experiences and perspectives within the classroom and curriculum. With an open mind, Leslie is thrilled to immerse herself in Greek culture, eager to learn from the students, educators, and community members of HAEF and the greater Athens area, all while doing what she loves — teaching. She ultimately plans to apply her Fulbright experiences to influence her future teaching practices and policy initiatives.

Liam Woods graduated from Villanova in 2023 with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Philosophy. He wrote an undergraduate Honors Thesis on a niche genre of art and music that exists solely on the internet and its role as social commentary on consumer capitalism. Liam was a substitute teacher in his home school district as an undergraduate, and after graduating, taught middle school science at an inner-city Catholic school for the 2023-24 school year in Bridgeport, CT. He has several years of experience as a camp counselor, as well. Liam comes from an extended family with a very strong history in pursuing a career in education, and is thrilled to take the family business international. While an undergraduate, he was an active member of Model United Nations, continuing a club activity he loved in high school, but also joined Club Curling, where Villanova placed 5th at Nationals 2 years in a row, and Villanova Student Theater, where, in the 2023 Spring Production of Treasure Island, he dutifully played the role of Grandma Hawkins. Liam is incredibly excited to be heading to Greece, and can’t wait to meet relatives living in both Athens and Yanena.

Lily Tiger graduated from Loyola University Maryland in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She has a special interest in teaching English literature and during her undergraduate years began classes to achieve her teaching certification. At Loyola, Lily interned at her school’s Center for Community, Service, and Justice where she connected Loyola students to the greater Baltimore community through service, and more specifically after-school tutoring. She participated in after school volunteer tutoring as a co-director of a creative writing and public speaking club at a local Baltimore city elementary school. At the end of each semester, she created a booklet that displayed her students' writing progress throughout the semester for the students and their guardians. Also, during her undergraduate studies, she interned at Reading Is Fundamental, a U.S. nonprofit committed to improving children’s literacy, where she recruited schools to receive literacy resources around the nation.  Her internship capstone project researched banned books and how they affect Reading Is Fundamental’s mission. During her senior year, Lily wrote an undergraduate thesis for Loyola’s English department, researching disco music and its connection to Black feminism, and it was granted the title of honors. She became familiar with Greek culture when she studied abroad in Athens, Greece for a semester during her junior year. She is excited to return as a Fulbright Fellow, hoping to gain more confidence in teaching and learning from cultures that are different from hers while deepening her connection with Greece. Outside of academics, Lily enjoys collecting and listening to vinyl, playing guitar, and taking short trips to New York City to visit friends and family.

Megan Parsley graduated from Drury University’s School of Education and Child Development with a BA in Middle School Social Sciences and an International Immersion certificate in May of 2023. As an undergraduate, Megan was what they call a true ‘utility player in Fastpitch Softball.’ Not only was she an NCAA student-athlete, but she was also a student teacher at Pipkin Middle School, an I.B. MYP-affiliated institution. While at Pipkin, Megan taught 8th-grade social studies and worked one-on-one with English language learners, students with intellectual disabilities, and incredibly gifted students. Her passion for Ancient Civilization studies led her to study abroad in Greece during the summer of 2022. Beyond the classroom, Megan was an executive member of her university’s student-athlete advisory council (SAAC), where she made school history by passing a proposal that granted student-athletes recognition at graduation. Megan is dedicated to giving back to her community and is currently active by giving softball lessons to young athletes who dream of competing at a higher level. In addition, she is a volunteer assistant coach at her local high school and has led them to a district championship and two state championship appearances. Diagnosed with a learning disability at a young age, Megan is determined to be an active and engaging educator much like the teachers before her. She plans to fully involve her students in learning while focusing on a wide range of cognitive learning styles to improve students' academic performance. Megan is ecstatic to return to Greece, for her passions for teaching and Greek culture will infuse together.

Mia Tierney recently graduated from the University of Portland with a B.A. in English and minors in Writing and Spanish. At the University of Portland, Mia devoted much of her undergraduate years to endeavors of the arts and creative writing, both in her work as Senior Editor for Writers Magazine, the University's sole creative publication for student work, and in her own creative pursuits. In 2023, Mia represented the University of Portland at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, where she collaborated with a team of students and mentors from across the Pacific Northwest to produce her own short play about Climate Change. Since then, she has written for and competed in short play festivals across Oregon and Washington. Mia is eager to explore the present day theater scene in Athens, as well as immerse herself in the deep and complex history of tragedies and comedies in Greece. Since her graduation, Mia has worked as a Paraeducator in the Beaverton School District, working with elementary school students on reading and math support. She compliments this work with volunteering at her local library’s story time, and she worked as a Student Assistant in her university’s library and digital lab while still in school.  She has found a passion and love for both education and library work, and sees their commonalities as crucial in shaping the lives of people of all ages. While working as a Fulbright Fellow, Mia hopes to deepen her understanding of how literature and storytelling function as tools to unite students beyond their perceived differences.

Olga is an honors graduate from DePaul University with a BA in Philosophy and French, where she was recognized as the top graduating senior in Philosophy. Her senior honors thesis examines the capacity of aesthetic experiences such as music and art to inspire critical reflection. As an undergraduate, she volunteered as an ESL tutor with recent immigrants, worked as an academic tutor at an elementary school located on Chicago’s southwest side, and mentored first-year students during their transition to DePaul. Additionally, she re-established the DePaul Hellenic Student Association and served as President for two terms. Throughout her studies, Olga held several research positions and internships. Notably, she was a Leadership Alliance Mellon Initiative Research Fellow at the University of Virginia where she received first-hand training in media literacy and the digital humanities. She also interned at the French Consulate of Chicago, fostering diplomatic relations at the regional level. In her free time, she enjoys learning languages, yoga, running, and playing the guitar and bouzouki. As a Fulbright Fellow, Olga looks forward to supporting cross-cultural connections and mutual understanding rooted in the pedagogical principle of active learning.

Sara Poulin graduated from Purdue University with a BA in Elementary Education and a concentration in reading comprehension. While at Purdue, she worked at the Klondike Kids Club afterschool program as a tutor to English-language learners and neurodivergent learners. She has been a language learner herself, learning both Spanish and German, which allowed her to utilize her own experiences to assist the students she tutored. It is through perseverance, effort, and curiosity that fosters language development; a pedagogy she hopes to apply during her teaching experience in Athens. During her undergraduate studies, she was an Undergraduate Research Trainee in the Honors College, where she explored a wide range of research questions surrounding education, specifically presenting on “Examining Teacher Practices During Group Work in a Science and Engineering Curriculum Unit” and placing second in the undergrad division at Purdue’s Annual Graduate Student Education Research Symposium 2022. She was also a k-6 substitute teacher, special events coordinator for her sorority’s philanthropy, Purdue Orientations leader, Honor’s Mentor, and Bible Study coordinator during her time at Purdue. Aside from academics, she is passionate about engaging with the community as she has done through her local food pantry, playing guitar, and running. Sara is eager to delve into the musical, religious, and historical spaces in Athens, embark on cultural exchange, and partake in the wonderful joys of teaching at Athens College-HAEF.

Sarah Hyatt graduated from Coe College in May 2024 with a B.A. in psychology and theatre arts, along with a minor in English. She also holds a TEFL certification. During her time at Coe, Sarah held various roles on campus, including being a peer tutor, a College Adjustment Peer, a writer/assistant for the college's academic resource center, and a psychology research assistant. She was also heavily involved with the theatre department, both on and off stage. Outside of school, she taught at summer youth theatre camps at a community theatre and a traveling theatre company. In her free time, she enjoys reading, dancing, hiking, and playing the ukulele. Sarah is looking forward to learn more about Greek culture in the upcoming year and is excited to learn from her colleagues and students at Athens College to enhance her skills as an educator.

Sophia Berkey graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in English, French, and Writing Seminars. She received the Chaffee Writing Prize for her excellence in writing and the Best Senior Essay Prize for her essay “Revisionist Poetry: Eavan Boland and the Irish Woman/Poet.” This work explored the poetry of Eavan Boland through a revisionist framework proposed by her American contemporary, Adrienne Rich, and paid particular attention to Boland’s adaptation and creation of Greco-Roman, Irish, and familial myth. Sophia also conducted archival research and oral history interviews relating to the contributions of women in the university’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering. This project nurtured her interest in the role of oral history in institutions. Throughout college, Sophia worked in the university’s Special Collections Library, Project MUSE at the Johns Hopkins University Press, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and was an editorial assistant at The Hopkins Review. She held leadership positions as a First-Year Mentor, Peer Leader, and Study Consultant. Additionally, Sophia taught 5th-grade Creative Writing through a partnership between the Department of Writing Seminars and Writers in Baltimore Schools. Sophia looks forward to developing her interest in Modern Greek literature and culture, and she is honored to have this opportunity to learn from and support the Athens College community.

Thomas Daley graduated from Bowdoin College in May 2022 with majors in Mathematics and Earth and Oceanographic Science. As an interviewer and head tour guide for Bowdoin Admissions, Thomas sought to make Bowdoin’s admissions process more approachable and to enrich the student employee experience. On campus, Thomas played trombone in the college’s orchestra, concert band, and trombone choir, and was a founding member and leader of Bowdoin Music Mentors. Thomas also tutored math at a local elementary school, taught ski classes for the outing club, and led a community immersion orientation trip to rural northern Maine. After graduation, Thomas joined the computational oceanography lab at the University of Delaware to continue research he started the previous summer as a National Science Foundation intern. Thomas presented his summer research at the international 2022 Ocean Sciences Meeting. Most recently, Thomas completed a year of civilian national service with AmeriCorps, where he led a team of young adults through service projects related to disaster response and preparedness. Thomas firmly believes that teaching presents a powerful opportunity for reciprocal learning; he is eager to explore his Greek heritage. In his free time, Thomas enjoys hiking, skiing, and running.