Salve Regina students awarded Fulbright scholarships

Two Salve Regina students received Fulbright awards for the 2024-2025 academic year, and one student was selected as an alternate. Kaelie Piscitello ’24 and John Rangel Marte ’23 were selected for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program, with Piscitello heading to Taiwan and Marte heading to Spain. Cailin Martin ’23 has been named an alternate for a Fulbright study/research award in the United Kingdom.

The students were selected from thousands of applicants competing in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for spots in 140 countries. Students from these countries likewise compete for Fulbright language teaching assistantships and study/research awards in the United States.

Founded in 1946, the Fulbright program is the federal government’s flagship international exchange program. Fulbright recipients are graduating seniors, alumni or graduate students representing various areas of study, selected for their leadership potential, academic achievement and commitment to service.

The English Teaching Assistant programs place Fulbrighters in classrooms abroad to teach English language to students from kindergarten to university level and serve as cultural ambassadors. Recipients of study/research awards enroll in graduate programs overseas and/or design their own projects working with advisors at foreign universities or other institutes of higher education.

“The Fulbright award offers these talented students an incredible opportunity to immerse themselves overseas for a year, directly engaging with their host country inside and outside of the classrooms,” said Erin FitzGerald, director of the Center for Global Education and Fellowships and Fulbright program advisor. “In addition, as Fulbright alumni they will become lifetime members of a worldwide network of fellow Fulbrighters who support the underlying goals of the Fulbright program and are often leaders in their fields.”

Kaelie Piscitello: Taiwan

Piscitello majored in elementary and special education with an English language immersion endorsement. She will teach in Taiwan, putting into practice her studies in Mandarin, commitment to English language learners and interest in comparative education. As an undergraduate, she studied abroad in Oxford, England, and had an opportunity to observe local teaching practices through experiences in the Oxford school system.

“Studying abroad changed my mindset about education,” she said. “It got me interested in not only learning but teaching around the world. I’m honored and excited to have been selected for this opportunity.”

John Rangel Marte: Spain

Marte majored in business administration and is pursuing his MBA through Salve Regina’s combined bachelor’s/master’s program. Having immigrated to Rhode Island from Puerto Rico, he is a first-generation college graduate. As an undergraduate, Marte studied abroad in Barcelona, where he provided English language education to middle schoolers. He is an active participant in Salve Regina’s Pathways program, which guides first-generation students and their families to high school graduation and college enrollment, and Fab Newport, a community makerspace serving 11- to 19-year-olds in Newport County.

“Working with students of different ages through Pathways and Fab Newport gave me great experience and confidence for my studying and teaching in Barcelona,” he said. “All of that will help me in this next opportunity. Receiving a Fulbright scholarship is such an honor. I’m thrilled to continue contributing to the world and local community here in Rhode Island.”

Cailin Martin: United Kingdom

Alternate Cailin Martin completed her degree in environmental studies in December 2023 and will speak to the graduating Class of 2024 as a valedictorian. Should additional funding become available, she will undertake research at the University of Kent through the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, where she has been accepted to the master’s program in conservation biology.

Marte and Martin are graduates of Rogers High School in Newport. Piscitello is a graduate of Sharon High School in Sharon, Massachusetts.

“It is a wonderful testament to these students to be selected for the Fulbright award and we are thrilled to have multiple winners in our graduating class,” said Dr. Nancy Schreiber, provost/vice president for academic affairs. “Their applications are also a testament to the many experiential opportunities Salve Regina students have, both on campus, in the local community and globally, that help them prepare to be successful candidates for post graduate fellowships.”