Global Engagement Fellows Program

Overview

two people shaking hands

The Global Engagement Fellows (GEF) program helps create a multicultural, multilingual, and interconnected campus to better prepare its students to thrive in a complex and global society.

The Fellows (students) are paired with a Mentor (alumni and members of the Vanderbilt community) for the year. Together they explore Nashville’s multilingual community and share their passion about language and culture with the broader Vanderbilt campus.

Fellows provide culturally enriching programs for student audiences, often combined with content in languages other than English (readings, performances, music, media, television/films, speakers).

The Global Engagement Fellows program is supported by the Vanderbilt Center for Languages, empowering its participants through community, mentorship, and funding.

Fellows contribute to making visible a mix of international students, heritage speakers, third-culture kids, returnees from study abroad, or any student interested in crossing cultural and linguistic borders, in service to the greater goal of promoting language integration and cultural competence among Vanderbilt University’s campus communities.
Our Fellows are partnered with a Mentor who has more years’ experience crossing cultural borders and living in a multilingual world. As faculty members, staff, alumni, and community partners, our GEF Mentors contribute to the program by lending their expertise, by listening, and by bringing to the conversation a wealth of experience.

Eligibility

The following students are eligible to apply:

All students, graduate and undergraduate, are eligible to apply.
Preference will be given to sophomores and juniors.

Our Fellows often identify as part of one or more of these groups:

Study Abroad Returnees

The GEF program provides a landing pad for students returning from studying abroad. It provides guidance, community, and support certainly, but also targeted activities that can ease their way back into campus life, connect them with similarly oriented Fellows, and contribute positively to campus culture.

International Students

The GEF program recognizes the unique perspectives of its international student members. It values the contributions of international students to life at Vanderbilt, and can help better integrate our international student community, both undergraduate and graduate, into campus life.

Heritage Speakers of languages other than English

Our heritage speakers also bring a valued perspective to campus life, enriching our notions of identity through the lens of language, family, and culture.

Third-Culture Kids (TCKs)

Students who identify as Third-Culture Kids usually grow up outside their parents’ home culture(s); consequently, they must establish for themselves their own, third culture. For both TCKs and heritage speakers, the GEF program celebrates their presence at Vanderbilt and provides legitimacy to their individual experience, as they may move between languages in ways that defy easy categorization.

How to Apply

Applications for the 2026-27 academic year are due by Friday, September 11 for the fall semester. Interviews will begin after July 31. Thank you for your interest in the Global Engagement Fellows.

Apply Now

Fellows

Current Fellows

		Evan Bennett

		Lina Chang

		Nellysa Chavez

		Vicky Chen

		Mahima Chowdhury

		Kristopher Escamilla-Vargas

		Charlie Fairfax

		Campbell Flemming

		Michaela Flowers

		Angelica Harris

		Anissa Ibrahim

		Dina Ishak

		Anisa Juma

		Taisiia Kostiuk
		Jordan LaGrone

		Carol Li

		Izabella Maestroiani

		Sam Malone

		Providence-Isaiah Poklay

		Neza Racecic

		Laird Ruiz-Perez

		Eva Sinelnikov
		Raylee Sipple

		Johnson Wu

		Yoshiya Yano

		Alejandra Zavalen-Martinez

		Akari Zhang
		Belle Zinn

Current Fellows looking to submit an event proposal should do so using this form.

Leadership & Mentors

Leadership

			Chalene Helmuth Program Director Director of the Vanderbilt Center for Languages \| Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Spanish and Portuguese

			Gus Smith Events, Planning, and Communication Administrative Specialist, Vanderbilt Center for Languages

			Caroline Nikolaus Mentor Liaison Senior Study Abroad Advisor, Vanderbilt Study Abroad

			Honorine Rouiller Mentor Liaison Assistant Professor of the Practice, French

			Lina Chang Fellow Liaison

Current Mentors

			Mariam Adam Assistant Professor of Clarinet

			Lori Catanzaro Principal Senior Lecturer of Romance Languages, Cultures, and Diasporas

			Natalie Curcio, M.D. Dermatologist, Entrepreneur, Vanderbilt Alum, Polyglot

			Sarah Delassus Senior Lecturer, Spanish

			Brian DeLevie Associate Director, Teaching@Vanderbilt Senior Lecturer of Cinema, Media Arts, and Theatre

			Christopher Figueroa Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Assistant Professor of Military Science

			Alexis Finet Assistant Professor of the Practice, French

			Joel Harrington Professor of History Centennial Chair of History Professor of European, German, and Russian Studies Interim Chair of the Department of European, German, and Russian Studies

			Ruth Hill Professor of Romance Languages, Cultures, and Diasporas Andrew W. Mellon Chair in the Humanities

			Seok Bae Jang Principal Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies (Korean)

			Jonathan Leeper Pre-Major Adviser

			Benjamin Legg Principal Senior Lecturer, Portuguese

			Alvaro Manrique Barrenechea Assistant Clinical Professor of Law; Director, Immigration Clinic

			E lizabeth Meadows Principal Senior Lecturer; Assistant Dean and Director of Undergraduate Education, College of Arts and Science

			Asami Nakano Lecturer, Asian Studies

			Caroline Nikolaus Senior Study Abroad Advisor, Vanderbilt Study Abroad

			Honorine Rouiller Senior Lecturer, French

			Mareike Sattler Senior Lecturer, Anthropology

			Elena Sergio Lecturer of Romance Languages, Cultures, and Diasporas

			Carly Sommerlot Language Teaching Specialist, English Language Center

			Chiara Sulprizio Senior Lecturer, Classical and Mediterranean Studies

			Yeung Tang Doctoral Student, Department of Teaching and Learning

			Yuanqi “Suzy” Wang Associate Director, Vanderbilt Study Abroad

			Steve Wenz Senior Lecturer, Spanish and Portuguese

			Richard Willis Senior Associate Provost for Research Operations Anne Marie and Thomas B. Walker, Jr., Professor of Accounting Vice Dean and Senior Associate Dean for the Faculty

Current Mentors looking to submit an event proposal should do so using this form.

Events

The GEF program curates cultural events on and off campus to provide Mentors and Fellows with ample opportunities to meet with each other and learn through culturally enriched experiences.

Upcoming Events

Fall Launch Event
Thursday, September 17 | 5:30 PM | VCL Satellite

Blair Presents: An Evening with Lucía
Friday, September 18, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Ingram Hall
Purchase tickets at BlairEvents.com to attend.

Japanese Moon Viewing at Cheekwood
Sunday, September 27 | 5:30 PM | Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
RSVP for this event to attend.

Celebrate Nashville International Culture Festival
Saturday, October 3 | 10:00 AM | Centennial Park
RSVP for this event to attend.

Conversation Pit Series: Dr. Natalie Curcio
Tuesday, October 6 | 5:00 PM | VCL Satellite

Conversation Pit Series: Professor Steven Wenz
Thursday, November 5 | 5:00 PM | VCL Satellite

End of Semester Celebration
Wednesday, November 18 | 5:30 PM | VCL Satellite