UTEP Students, Faculty, Staff Selected for Prestigious Fulbright Program
EL PASO, Texas (June 16, 2025) – Four recent graduates, one faculty member and one staff member from The Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é of Texas at El Paso have been selected for the prestigious Fulbright Program.
As part of one of the most respected international exchange programs in the world, UTEP’s Fulbright Scholars will have the opportunity to conduct research, study and teach abroad in Ecuador, Germany, Peru, Spain and Taiwan.
“It’s an honor for our students and faculty to have been awarded Fulbrights,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “I’m pleased and encouraged that we had so many applicants this year. The best students at UTEP can compete with the best students anywhere.”
This year, UTEP had 30 Fulbright student applicants – an institutional record – from which 15 were selected as semi-finalists. In addition to the four student recipients, four students have been named alternates. Students and recent alums applied to the year-long Fulbright Student Program, while faculty and staff applied to the Fulbright Scholars Program.
Meet the UTEP faculty, staff and graduates selected for the 2025 Fulbright Award:
Alec Corral
M.A. in Applied Linguistics, May 2023
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award (ETA) in Taiwan
Corral aims to engage in Taiwan’s community and culture, learning about student experiences, beliefs and values. They look forward to growing as a teacher and mentor for their Taiwanese students, guiding them to be solution-oriented in their academic careers. Upon returning to the U.S., Corral plans to pursue an MBA degree to bolster their experience from work in the nonprofit world and the Fulbright program.
Maria Teresa de la Piedra, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Teacher Education, College of Education
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award in Peru
A transnational faculty member, de la Piedra will spend four months in Lima, Peru, teaching graduate courses and conducting research on language practices at her alma mater, the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Her work focuses on bilingualism, cross-border students and dual language programs, drawing connections between the U.S.-Mexico border and Peru’s multilingualism. De la Piedra’s research explores dynamic bilingualism among Latine and Peruvian indigenous populations with the goal of fostering collaboration with Peruvian scholars and producing impactful research that enhances UTEP’s international visibility.
Jennifer Green
Director, Office of Student Fellowships and Awards
Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Award in Germany
Green is the first-ever UTEP recipient of the Fulbright IEA Award. During a two-week seminar in Germany, she will visit several German universities to explore opportunities that may be suitable for UTEP students pursuing graduate studies and research abroad. Green sees her Fulbright experience as a valuable opportunity to enhance the services her office provides to students, increase the Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é’s engagement with Germany and gain meaningful global perspectives while fostering new connections.
Ruby Rodriguez
B.A. in History, May 2025
Fulbright ETA in Ecuador
As UTEP’s first Fulbright recipient to go to Ecuador, Rodriguez looks forward to serving as a cultural ambassador, sharing her experience as part of the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez binational community. Rodriguez is eager to learn about Ecuador’s approaches to bilingual education and acquire new insights into education on an international scale. Upon returning to the U.S., Rodriguez plans to pursue a degree in international relations with a focus on education policy and human rights.
Daniela Salgado
B.A. in Psychology, May 2023
Fulbright ETA in Spain
Motivated by her work in humanitarian aid organization Border Servant Corps, Salgado will strive to help improve living conditions for Spain’s migrant community. She aims to share her heritage and experience living in a border city and connect with English as a Second Language (ESL) students to encourage them in their writing journey. Following her return to the U.S., Salgado plans to pursue a master’s in bilingual/ESL education, a launchpad for her desired career as a college-level bilingual and ESL educator.
Vianney Zuniga
M.A. in Linguistics, May 2023
Fulbright ETA in Spain
With a passion for bilingual education, Zuniga strives to promote El Paso and its bicultural society to her English students in Spain. Zuniga focuses on supporting emerging bilinguals, understanding the frustrations of learning a second language and setting goals in their development. Zuniga is currently pursuing a master’s in bilingual education and strives to continue her studies through a doctoral program in linguistics or second-language teaching.
The following four UTEP students have been selected as alternates, an honor positioning them as potential Fulbright recipients:
- Andres Gonzalez, Alternate, Fulbright ETA in South Korea
- Mara Marquez, Alternate, Fulbright ETA in Spain
- Natalie Pravinkumar, Alternate, Fulbright Research Award in Bosnia
- Frida Terrazas-Holguin, Alternate, Fulbright ETA in Argentina
The UTEP Office of Student Fellowships and Awards provides comprehensive guidance to students throughout the Fulbright application process. Applicants participate in the Fulbright Boot Camp, an intensive advising program that includes a panel of Fulbright alumni and hybrid workshops on application components, essay feedback and interview processes. The 2025 Fulbright Boot Camp for Student Programs starts June 17.
“I am incredibly proud of UTEP's 2024-25 Fulbright Student Program applicants, particularly the way that they supported each other throughout the process. They even inspired me to pursue a Fulbright of my own,” said Green. “I first applied for the Fulbright International Education Administrators Award in 2015 and was named an alternate. Ten years later, I reapplied because my students have taught me about perseverance and willingness to make yourself vulnerable. They also reminded me to follow my own advice and remember that there's value in applying regardless of outcomes.”
If you’re a current student or recent graduate interested in applying, contact the Office of Student Fellowships and Awards at studentfellowships@utep.edu.
More information on the services provided by the fellowships office is available at utep.edu/student-affairs/student-fellowships-awards/.
About The Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é of Texas at El Paso
The Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é of Texas at El Paso is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 25,000 students are Hispanic, and more than half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 171 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.
Last Updated on June 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM | Originally published June 16, 2025
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
