Student Spotlights : Center for International Studies : Texas State University

Meet our recent Fulbright winners and finalists!

Trace Kleinecke

International Business and German major - English Teaching Assistantship winner to Germany

What made you want to apply for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program? To Germany specifically?

I applied for the Fulbright ETA grant in Germany because I thought it would be a great opportunity to expand my German language skills, improve my understanding of the German culture and way of life, and further expand my worldview.

I was specifically interested in the English Teaching Assistant grant because of my experience tutoring and teaching a foreign language. I thoroughly enjoyed my time teaching, so the ETA grant was a perfect opportunity for me to do something I enjoy while living abroad!

What are your hopes/plans for after you complete your degree?

After I return from Fulbright, I hope to find a job in which I can use my German language skills and knowledge of German culture, strengthened teaching ability, and/or knowledge of international affairs. I would like to return to Texas and find something in the Austin area. However, I am also open to taking life as it comes and taking any opportunities that would allow me to continue living abroad, whether that's in Germany or somewhere else.

Trace Kleinecke poses in front of Neuschwannstein Castle

Trace stands in front of a body of water on a bridge.

Majoring in International Studies helped to greatly expand my worldview and understanding of the global economy, politics, and cultural differences. Growing up in small-town Texas, I didn't have many opportunities to learn about or see much outside of Texas, much less the US. International Studies provided a great starting point for me to broaden my thinking and global outlook. The courses I took while pursuing my degree in International Studies, along with my experiences studying abroad, gave me a path to grow not only my knowledge of international happenings, but also to grow as an individual. I would not be who I am today and would not have been able to accomplish all that I have without the personal growth spurred by my studies abroad and insights gained while majoring in International Studies.

Lois Bronaugh

International Studies, MA - Fulbright Research Fellowship Finalist

What made you want to apply for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program? To Germany specifically?

I learned about the Fulbright program as an undergraduate student at Austin College (Sherman, TX), after I returned from studying abroad for a semester in Marburg, Germany. I was initially compelled by Fulbright’s goal of equipping Americans to be cultural ambassadors, since my semester abroad exposed me to people from all around the world whose backgrounds and experiences differed so much from my own. Besides being interested in the German language, I wanted to apply to the program in Germany specifically because my great-grandparents migrated from there, and I love the country’s storytelling traditions, sociopolitical history, religious background, and natural scenery.

Fun fact: I actually went through the Fulbright ETA application process in 2019/2020, and even though I didn’t end up going to Germany, it was a valuable experience that prepared me for applying this year. The point being—don’t be afraid to take chances and to try again, even when you think the ship has sailed. You never know what will happen.

What research would you like to do in Germany?

I would like to continue my master’s research in migration and refugee studies, particularly in investigating how refugee events and populations impact local communities. With the Fulbright award, I hope to analyze how Eastern European refugees from the Prague Spring (1968) were received in West Germany and assess their contribution to local politics at the time. While the Cold War era seems remote from the present day, much of the way we live and the way international politics work have been shaped by this period, and I believe that learning more about it can help us engage with current events in an informed and thoughtful way.

Lois Bronaugh stands in front of a monument in Berlin

What are your hopes/plans for after you complete your degree?

After I graduate, I plan to work for an NGO or IGO, where I can apply my knowledge and experiences to promote collaboration in cross-cultural settings. I hope to continue my research on a professional level and to write and publish some of my work. For my bachelor's degree, I majored in History and English Creative Writing, so I’m interested in both academic and fictional writing, as well as in eventually completing a PhD in a related discipline.

Interested in Applying for Fulbright?

In partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide, the Fulbright Program offers outstanding graduating seniors, graduate students, and young professionals in all academic disciplines opportunities to pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad.

During their grants, Fulbrighters meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country. The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think.

Eligibility

Applicants must be citizens or nationals of the United States at the time of the application deadline.
Applicants must have a conferred bachelor's degree or equivalent before the start of the grant period.
Applicants must meet the language requirements of the award to which they are applying and demonstrate sufficient competency to complete their project and adjust to life in the host country.
Preference will be given to applicants whose higher education was undertaken primarily at educational institutions in the U.S. Undergraduate study abroad experiences, either in the chosen host country or elsewhere, will not be considered a disadvantage.
Candidates who have not resided or studied in the country to which they are applying for more than six months, not counting undergraduate study abroad, are preferred. Duty abroad in the U.S. Armed Forces is not considered disqualifying within the meaning of this section.
Candidates who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces will be given preference, provided their qualifications are approximately equivalent to those of other candidates.

Application Procedure

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is highly competitive and the application requires a significant amount of preparation.

To be eligible for advising services for the application, all undergraduates and undergraduate alumni must attend a presentation and declare their intention to apply by contacting Dr. Lisa Haegele (haegele@txstate.edu), Fulbright Program Adviser for undergraduate students and alumni, by May 1. Please email Dr. Haegele for details about the presentation dates/times.

Applicants who do not attend a presentation and declare their interest by May 1 may not receive advising support for their applications.

The campus deadline for applications is usually the second week of September. The campus deadline is earlier than the Fulbright national deadline. Applicants must submit their entire applications—including language evaluations and recommendations—by the campus deadline. Campus interviews take place the week after the deadline.

All graduates and graduate alumni must contact a Fulbright Program Adviser in the Graduate College (gcexternalfunds@txst.edu) by May 1.

For more information about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, please visit: https://us.fulbrightonline.org.