Colorado School of Mines is a top producer of Fulbright U.S. students

Colorado School of Mines has been recognized as one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of students and recent alumni selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.  

Three students from Mines were selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for academic year 2025-26. This marks the first time Mines has had more than one student Fulbright recipient in the same year, said Ashley Weibel, assistant director of undergraduate research and nationally competitive scholarships. 

The Fulbright Program, established in 1946, is the U.S. government’s premier international academic exchange program.  Each year, it provides opportunities for exceptional Americans and participants from 160 countries and locations to study, teach, and conduct research abroad, advancing knowledge, science, and industry through international exchange and collaboration.  Fulbright Alumni achieve distinction and are recognized as leaders in government, business, science, technology, research, education and the arts.

"Our recognition as a Top Producing Institution proves that Mines students are more than just world-class engineers—they are global citizens eager to apply their technical brilliance to the world's most pressing cross-cultural challenges,” Weibel said.  

We checked in with the three Mines Fulbright U.S. students to learn more about their experiences so far:

Isabella “Is” Chittumuri: Climate-related hazards in Iceland

Isabella “Is” Chittumuri, a PhD candidate in applied mathematics and statistics, was selected for the Fulbright National Science Foundation Arctic Research Award. She is conducting an independent research project focused on assessing climate-related hazards in the Hornafjörður region of southeast Iceland using geospatial analysis and machine learning. By modeling climate-driven risks, such as extreme weather, Chittumuri’s project aims to support the Hornafjörður region in making data-informed decisions for local infrastructure planning and risk mitigation. 

 Since her arrival in Iceland in August, Chittumuri has been laying the groundwork for research through data acquisition and stakeholder engagement with researchers and practitioners from a range of institutions, including the Icelandic Meteorological Office, Vegagerðin (Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration), University of Iceland in Reykjavík, Hornafjörður Research Centre, and the municipal planning committee of Hornafjörður. 

Moving forward into the second half of her grant, Chittumuri’s next phase of research will focus on developing and validating spatially explicit machine learning models that integrate climate variables, infrastructure data, and hazard histories to identify risk patterns and future vulnerability scenarios. Chittumuri has also applied for a grant through the Icelandic Road Administration’s Research Fund to extend her modeling analysis from the municipal level in Hornafjörður to a nation-wide framework, with the goal of informing broader national infrastructure planning and climate adaptation efforts across Iceland. 

“My Fulbright experience has been the first taste of what I want my career to be. In my team, I’m the only statistician, working amongst geologists, volcanologists, and other scientists,” Chittumuri said. “This has been an affirming experience – I got the tools I needed from Mines to be successful, and now I have the opportunity to use them in the way I want to in my career.”  

Beyond her research, Chittumuri has actively engaged in cultural and community involvement throughout her time in Iceland. 

“I volunteer weekly with the Expired Foods Iceland project, helping collect surplus food from grocery stores and bakeries for redistribution to those in need,” said Chittumuri. “I also participate in local dance communities, including Zouk, Lindy Hop, and Bachata. These activities have helped me integrate into the local community, build meaningful connections, and gain a deeper cultural understanding that complements my research experience.”  

Nadia Schreiber: Forest restoration techniques in Morocco

Nadia Schreiber, who graduated in May 2025 with a M.S. in Hydrologic Science and Engineering, was selected for the Fulbright Open Study/Research Grant to Morocco. Since her grant started in September, she has been conducting an independent research project that uses satellite imagery, GIS, and groundwater quality analysis to evaluate forest restoration techniques in Ahlaf, Morocco, in collaboration with the organization Malin L'ghaba and Cadi Ayyad University. Following her analysis, Schreiber will work with Malin L'ghaba to choose and implement an optimal reforestation solution.. 

“My goal is to have a tangible and beneficial impact on the groundwater,” said Schreiber, who also earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science from Mines. 

"The next phase of her work includes camping on the land with a team of 35 volunteers and experts from a reforestation non-profit based in Germany called MIYA Forest. “We're going to get our hands dirty, plant some seeds, and start to build rainwater harvesting structures,” she said. 

Having the opportunity to conduct research and practice presentation and writing skills at Mines prepared her for the Fulbright experience of self-managing a year-long independent research project.

“Fulbright has set me up for life,” Schreiber said. “Moving to a completely different country, immersing myself in the culture, and researching what I love, is an experience that helped me grow and taught me how to be part of a community. Now I really feel prepared for any job and opportunity that comes my way.”  

Fulbright has been much more than just a research project for Schreiber, too. 

“For me, this grant has been a huge travel adventure,” Schreiber said. “Whether it's paragliding in Meknes, surfing in Taghazout, camping in the Sahara, building a tree nursery near Casablanca, or dining at the embassy in Rabat, it's been a dream come true.”  

Camila Garcia-Ferreyra: Teaching and cultural immersion in South Korea 

Camila Garcia-Ferreyra, who graduated in December 2023 with a M.S. in Advanced Energy Systems, was selected to complete a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in South Korea. Garcia-Ferreyra, who also holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Mines, arrived in Goesan, South Korea, in early January for six weeks of intensive training in the Korean language and teaching clinics before being assigned to a host community and school. 

Since graduating from Mines, Garcia-Ferreyra has worked in industry as an engineer but was always curious about what a teaching career might look like. The Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship is giving Garcia-Ferreyra a taste of a future career in teaching and an immersion in Korean culture.  

Since arriving in South Korea alongside a cohort of 65 American peers, Garcia-Ferreyra has followed a busy schedule involving 4-6 hours of Korean language classes and 4 hours of teaching workshops daily. In mid-February, she will begin her academic year role as an English Teaching Assistant at a K-12 school. 

“I’m most looking forward to exploring my placement city, as well as traveling across South Korea over the course of the year,” Garcia-Ferreyra said. “I’m also excited to keep up with my Korean language skills so that I can connect with my host community.”   

Garcia-Ferreyra's advice to Mines students? “Have an open mind and be flexible. Two years ago, I hadn’t even considered applying to Fulbright or living in South Korea. Now, I’m so excited to be here.”  

Learn more about Fulbright opportunities at Mines

Applicants to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program at Mines are supported by Mines’ Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships. For more information about applying for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program or other national and international scholarships, please contact ashley.weibel@mines.edu and visit the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships webpage.