Five Lehigh students and faculty members have been awarded the world-renowned Fulbright Scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year, the latest recipients in Lehigh’s extensive and committed history with the international exchange program. This application cycle marks the second-highest number of recipients for Lehigh, with the highest being six scholars in the 2018-19 cycle.
This year’s five recipients are: Cece Garvey ’25; Marissa Argen ’25; Armando Quiroz ’27 Ed.D.; Natasha Vermaak, professor of mechanical engineering; and Dork Sahagian, professor of Earth and environmental sciences.
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international academic exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government, which aims to foster mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries since 1946.
The program awards approximately 9,000 students, scholars, teachers and professionals from the U.S. and more than 160 countries each year, according to the Fulbright Program website.
Lehigh’s strong history with the program dates back more than 20 years. Bill Hunter, director of the Office of Fellowship Advising and UN Programs, said Lehigh is well-regarded because the university is dedicated to hosting foreign Fulbright scholars, as well as submitting prestigious students for candidacy.
Lehigh is so well-respected with the program, Hunter said, that Senator Fulbright’s wife has visited campus twice in the last decade.
“Lehigh has been home to Fulbright Scholars from around the world for decades,” Hunter said. “In turn, our faculty and students make great Fulbright candidates and they regularly win this prestigious award."
The program has received bipartisan government support for the last 79 years. However, potential future changes at the federal level threaten cuts to the program. In June, the Fulbright Board resigned, citing alleged political interference.
According to Hunter, the five Lehigh recipients are still on track to receive their scholarships and complete their programs.
“Lehigh received notification that there is full funding available for our students and faculty who have most recently won Fulbright Scholarships,” Hunter said. “We have every reason to believe that they will be on a plane sometime soon.”
Garvey will use her scholarship to travel to Paraguay and serve as an English teaching assistant. Garvey studied political science at Lehigh and will be researching Paraguayan author representation and the culture of indigenous languages.
Garvey said she’s been assured her funding will be provided, yet she is guardedly hopeful about her plans.
“(The application process) was a long wait and a long process. I’ve had to practice lots of patience and cautious optimism,” Garvey said.
Sahagian received the faculty Fulbright award and will travel to the American University of Armenia in December to teach environmental science and research volcanology.
Sahagian has been at Lehigh for more than 20 years and serves as the director of environmental initiatives. He said Lehigh’s willingness to accommodate student learning and make changes to advance programs is what encouraged his Fulbright application.
“The university is 100% behind you,” Sahagian said. “Anything the faculty wants to do, we find a way to do it. Anything students want to do, we find a way to do it. The one thing that I've not seen at other universities is the support of our students and our faculty.”
Hunter said the recipients’ patience and optimism are a testament to the kind of applicants the university endorses for the prestigious program.
