Grantee

Sarah Swiersz graduated from the University of Central Florida with an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on Water Quality Law, Environmental Conflict Resolution, and Ethics of Science. Sarah has over 1000 hours of experience tutoring and substitute teaching in K–12 public schools across Florida, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, and she previously worked on federal STEM education policy with the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy.

As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Nepal, Sarah will be placed at Jana Uddhar Secondary School in Budhanilkantha, where she will support English learning and connect with the local community. Sarah will develop a STEAM education program for school girls, weaving scientific and artistic knowledge to explore the connections between Nepal’s rich nature and culture through environmental science field experiments and related crafts. After Fulbright, Sarah plans to teach science in an under-resourced community while continuing to advocate for water quality, air quality, and equitable access to STEM education.

Natalia Lalin earned an A.B. degree from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs in 2024, along with a certificate in The History and Practice of Diplomacy. Her academic and professional work focuses on international education, global policy, law, and South Asian affairs. Drawing on her heritage as a South Asian American and her family’s history of immigrating to America amidst Sri Lanka’s civil war, Natalia developed a deep interest in the region’s political and social dynamics. As such, her senior thesis examined the impact of Chinese investment in the region, using Sri Lanka as a case study and highlighting the importance of incorporating local perspectives into global policy debates. For this project, she received a grant to travel to Sri Lanka, where she interviewed key stakeholders, from CEOs to government officials, inspiring her to return to South Asia to conduct on-the-ground work.

As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Nepal and a former pre-professional dancer, she hopes to work with students during her grant to develop creative approaches to language learning that incorporate movement, music, and writing into classroom instruction. Following her Fulbright grant, she plans to attend Columbia Law School and hopes to later pursue a career in public service focused on expanding educational opportunity both in the United States and internationally.