Six new Tulane Fulbright finalists announced for 2026-27

Anna Yates today@tulane.edu

Six Tulane graduates have been named Fulbright grant recipients for 2026-27. These graduates receive funds through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program — the U.S. Department of State’s flagship international educational exchange program — to either study for a graduate degree, conduct an individually designed research project or participate in an English Teaching Assistant Program outside the United States.  

This year, the Newcomb-Tulane College Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships supported 24 applicants through the months-long Fulbright application process. Fifteen of those applicants were announced as semifinalists in January. Currently, six applicants have been selected for a Fulbright grant, with three more listed as alternates.  

"Living in a different culture is a challenge, but these six Tulanians are ready for it,” said Thomas Spencer, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships within Newcomb-Tulane College. "Chosen from thousands of applicants, they have the skills and determination to build meaningful connections and serve as exceptional citizen ambassadors."

The graduates will represent both the U.S. and Tulane as they create mutual understanding across borders and cultures. 

Layla Babahaji with long, dark curly hair.
Layla Babahaji graduated in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in public health from the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (WSPH), as well as a minor in Spanish from the School of Liberal Arts. In 2022, she graduated from WSPH with a master's degree in international health and sustainable development. She said, "I am honored to have been selected for a Fulbright grant to Morocco, where I will teach English at the university level, focusing on academic writing, reading and communication skills while fostering cross-cultural exchange and connection. Having previously studied and conducted public health research in Morocco, including an independent research project on migrant health and a graduate practicum evaluating a community-based public health program, I am excited to return and continue building my connection to Morocco while deepening my fluency in Darija and Arabic."
Marie Howard
Marie Howard graduated in May from the School of Liberal Arts with a bachelor’s degree in political science and teaching, learning and training, as well as a psychology minor. She said, “As a Fulbright English teaching assistant in the Canary Islands, I will help students learn English while also sharing and learning about each other’s cultures. I hope to use different forms of art to connect cross-culturally in ways that go beyond language barriers, both with my students and within the local community. I’m excited to explore the beautiful islands and improve my Spanish while living there.”
Aidan McCahill
Aidan McCahill graduated in 2024 from the School of Liberal Arts with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He said, “I will be based in Berlin and hosted by the Berlin School of Economics and Law. I'll be working with criminologists in their Department of Police and Security Management to research and report on how technology and immigration are influencing organized crime in Germany and how law enforcement is attempting to keep up with these changes. I am most excited to conduct boots-on-the-ground journalism on an international level and immerse myself in one of the most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities in Europe.”
Crystal Ni
Crystal Ni graduated in May from the School of Liberal Arts with a bachelor’s degree in political economy and a concentration in law, economics and policy, as well as a sociology minor. She said, “I will be in New Taipei City, Taipei, as an English teaching assistant for the 2026-2027 year. I am excited to learn more about Taiwanese culture and try new foods, but I am most looking forward to working with children.”
Shadie Shrestha
Shadie Shrestha graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from the School of Science and Engineering and a degree in English from the School of Liberal Arts. She said, “I’ll be heading to Kathmandu, Nepal, for an English teaching assistantship. Since my parents are originally from Nepal, I’m really excited to spend time there, connect more deeply with the culture as an adult and go trekking in the mountains.”
Mary Evelyne White
Mary Evelyne White graduated in May from the School of Liberal Arts with a bachelor’s degree in French and linguistics. She said, “I will be attending Aix-Marseille University in Aix-en-Provence, France, for a master's in linguistics with a contact and fieldwork concentration. There, I'll be taking coursework entirely in French on a range of linguistic topics and expanding my research on French and Creole sociolinguistics. I'm most excited to explore the French National Archives right next to campus, which includes a wealth of documents from throughout the French colonies.”

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