First Rome, then South Korea, now Malaysia.
Rachael Chesley ’11 is gearing up for another international experience. This time, she’s part of the Fulbright Program, one of the most prestigious scholarship programs worldwide.
Shortly after graduating in May, Rachael received the news that she’d been selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Starting in January, she’ll work as an English teaching assistant in Malaysia for one year. She spent part of July in Washington, D.C., attending the Fulbright Southeast Asia Orientation.
“Receiving a Fulbright scholarship is literally a dream come true,” says Rachael, who majored in business administration. “I am incredibly humbled by the opportunity to represent my country, my community, and Saint Mary’s overseas.”
Rachael, a resident of New Lenox, Illinois, is used to life abroad. During college, she spent as much time away as on campus. She studied with Saint Mary’s College’s Rome Program during her sophomore year. Almost immediately after returning, she volunteered to go to Ewha Women's University in Seoul, South Korea, as the College’s first exchange student there. She came back to win the election for student body president, though she’d never held elected office before.
“Saint Mary’s provided endless opportunities to get involved and, overall, encouraged me to take on leadership roles and challenge myself whether on campus or abroad,” Rachael says.
Rachael joins four other Saint Mary’s College alumnae Fulbrighters: Tamara Demianczuk Fedoryshyn ’07, Nina Helmen Cooper ’05 and Katherine Denzel ’98. In 2010, Steven Broad, assistant professor of mathematics, was accepted into the Fulbright Scholar Program to study in Brazil.
Click here for a press release about Rachael and her scholarship.