Recent KU graduate receives Fulbright Award; 3 others named alternates

LAWRENCE – One recent University of Kansas graduate accepted a prestigious Fulbright award as a teaching assistant in Austria, and two other alumni and a doctoral candidate were named alternates to study or conduct research abroad.

Finn Finnerty, who graduated in May with a degree in foreign language education, accepted a U.S. Teaching Assistantship through Fulbright Austria. Alicia Houser, a doctoral candidate in history; Theresa Read, a recent graduate in chemistry and biochemistry; and Samantha Brant, an education alumna, were named alternates for Fulbright Awards.

The Fulbright program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program operates in more than 160 countries worldwide.

Since the program’s inception in 1946, KU has had nearly 500 students selected for Fulbright awards. KU International Affairs coordinates the applications for Fulbright grants. 

“The Fulbright Program offers exceptional opportunities to teach, pursue a graduate degree or conduct research abroad,” said Rachel Sherman Johnson, KUIA director of internationalization and partnerships. “KU’s applicants put together creative and academically rigorous proposals and were outstanding representatives of the university in this year’s highly competitive application cycle.”

Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected based on academic or professional achievement as well as their record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields. Fulbright grants provide funding for round-trip travel, maintenance for one academic year, health and accident insurance and, where relevant, tuition.

The 2024-2025 Fulbright recipients and alternate:

Finn Finnerty was selected for two Fulbright awards. 

They were offered an English teaching assistantship in Germany and a U.S. Teaching Assistantship through Fulbright Austria. 

Finnerty has accepted the Fulbright award in Austria, where they will be teaching English and U.S. culture this fall. 

From Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Finnerty graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in foreign language education and minors in German and Spanish. 

Their parents are Miranda and Scott Finnerty.  

Samantha Brant was named an alternate to study and conduct research in education at Durham University in the United Kingdom. 

Her research explores how a school's curriculum and instruction are perceived by intermediate and middle-level students. 

From Topeka and currently living in Kansas City, Missouri, Brant received a master’s degree in education from KU in 2015. 

Her parents are David and Deba Brant.

Alicia Houser was selected as an alternate to study and conduct research in history in Tanzania. 

Her research examines how women have transformed Moshi, Tanzania, from a town built to serve colonial purposes into an African urban center of commerce and transportation. 

Houser is a doctoral candidate in history. 

She has a master’s degree in public and international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and bachelor’s degrees in international relations and African studies from Austin College. 

Her parents are Bryan Houser and Janice Hileman.

Theresa Read was selected as an alternate to study and conduct research in chemistry in Sweden. 

She proposed enrolling in Uppsala University's master’s program in chemistry for renewable energy. 

Read lives in Shawnee and graduated in May with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and biochemistry. 

Her husband and son are Justin and Dalamar Read.