Two recent College of Arts & Letters alums have been awarded 2026-27 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants. They are among seven Michigan State University students and recent alums who were offered Fulbright grants this year and who are traveling to seven different countries to teach English during the 2026-27 academic year. Two MSU students also were named as alternates.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected in a rigorous, merit-based competition that considers leadership potential, academic and/or professional achievement, and record of service in addition to their potential as cultural ambassadors while abroad.  

The 2026-27 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant recipients from MSU’s College of Arts & Letters include:

• David Rabinkov, who graduated in Spring 2026 with majors in Russian Language through the College of Arts & Letters and International Relations and Comparative Cultures and Politics, both through James Madison College. He also graduated with minors in Jewish Studies, Russian and Eurasian Studies, and European Studies. As a Fulbright recipient, he will be teaching English in Azerbaijan.
• Melissa Rich, who graduated in Summer 2026 with a master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Applied Linguistics through the College of Arts & Letters. She also is an Instructor for the English Language Center. As a Fulbright recipient, she will be teaching English in Montenegro at universities in Nikšić and Podgorica.

“During my first year at MSU, I attended an education abroad fair James Madison held. I spoke to a Fulbright alum about the program, and it seemed pretty interesting to me. I called my mom to tell her about it then, so I always knew that I would apply for it,” Rabinkov said. “Azerbaijan is a unique country both geopolitically and in terms of cultural intersectionality. The mix of Azerbaijani, Turkic, Jewish, and Russian language, culture, and history was the primary reason for my decision to apply to Azerbaijan.”

Studying Russian at the College of Arts & Letters helped prepare Rabinkov for his Fulbright experience.

“As a fluent heritage speaker, studying Russian at CAL gave me the opportunity to observe the learning processes of non-heritage/new foreign language learners,” Rabinkov said. “Studying Russian in a university setting also helped me understand my fluency through a linguistic lens rather than a purely instinctual one.”

Of her Fulbright grant, Rich said, “When I was researching which country to apply to, I just fell in love with Montenegro. I’m beyond excited for this opportunity to live and teach there. The culture, people, and natural beauty have already hooked me! I’m also excited to collaborate with English instructors because I really value the exchange of ideas and experience.”

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and partner institutions, corporations and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program. 

For information on all the 2026-27 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant recipients from MSU as well as the recipients of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program awards, see the article “MSU Fulbright Scholars and Students Announced for 2026-27” written by Beth Brauer and published by International Studies & Programs.