Dera Driscoll ’26 selected for Fulbright teaching award in Taiwan

Dera Driscoll ’26, a Japanese studies and mathematics double major at Earlham College, has been selected for a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award for the 2026-27 academic year. Driscoll is the 43rd Earlhamite to receive a Fulbright since 1991, continuing Earlham’s longstanding reputation for producing global scholars.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Driscoll will serve as an English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan, building on prior teaching experience and language study. Having previously taught middle school students through Earlham’s Studies in Cross-Cultural Education (SICE) program in Japan, they were drawn to the Taiwan Fulbright program for its immersive classroom experience and its alignment with their long-term goal of becoming a college professor. Driscoll brings both Mandarin experience from high school and a passion for mentorship, hoping to positively impact students while developing their own teaching skills.

Driscoll’s interest in Taiwan grew from a combination of academic preparation and personal curiosity. Through extracurricular work with local middle school students in the SPARK club and a desire to engage with new cultures, Driscoll saw the Fulbright program as a chance to continue teaching abroad while deepening their global perspective. They are particularly excited to live in Taiwan independently, explore its culture, and gain firsthand experience navigating a new educational environment.

Reflecting on their journey, Driscoll emphasizes the role of Earlham faculty and mentors who supported them along the way, including advisors in Japanese studies and mathematics.

“Their guidance has pushed me to grow academically and personally,” Driscoll says. “I hope to pay it forward one day by mentoring and recommending students for opportunities like Fulbright, just as I was supported.”

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is a nationally competitive fellowship that supports graduates pursuing research, graduate study, or English teaching abroad while fostering cross-cultural exchange. Two additional Earlham students, Jacob Gurt ’25 and Reba McGloughlin ’26, were also named Fulbright semifinalists and are still awaiting final decisions this spring.

“Earlham students’ remarkable intellectual curiosity compels them to explore questions and ideas that transcend easy categorization,” said Elana Passman, professor of history and Earlham’s Fulbright liaison. “The breadth of their learning empowers each Earlham student to blaze a unique path. I’m thrilled this world-renowned fellowship has recognized the distinctive achievements of these three Earlhamites.”

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About Earlham College 

Earlham College and Earlham School of Religion foster a collaborative learning community that inspires and motivates students with transformative opportunities and experiences so they can become catalysts for good in a changing world. Located in Richmond, Indiana, Earlham is one of U.S. News & World Report’s Top 100 national liberal arts colleges and offers one of the top 20 classroom experiences in the nation, according to the Princeton Review.