Taylor Herman, a student at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) scholarship to Moldova. This esteemed recognition is the culmination of years of dedication to academics and involvement in research initiatives in international relations.
The Fulbright ETA scholarship to Moldova is awarded to candidates at all degree levels who have an interest in international education and want to teach conversational English at schools in Moldova. In addition to teaching, recipients will also develop extracurricular projects for the local community. The grant spans nine months, starting in September 2025 and ending in June 2026.
Herman, a student in the Judy Genshaft Honors College majoring in political science with a minor in legal studies, began working toward this achievement in the last three years. Her interest in Moldova began during her freshman year when she was introduced to Dr. Judithanne McLauchlan from the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies (SIGS).
During an American National Government class, McLauchlan discovered Herman’s interests in international relations and invited her to assist with a research project in collaboration with the Universitatea Libera Internationala din Moldova (ULIM), focused on studying the U.S. Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
“It was so eye-opening to meet faculty and staff members from Moldova, especially at the time of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a conflict taking place closely nearby. The collaboration sparked my interest in learning more about Moldova, the development of their young democracy, and views of college students my age regarding where the nation is headed,” she said.
Taylor Herman during her study abroad experience in the summer of 2023. (Photo courtesy of Taylor Herman)
Dr. Judithanne McLauchlan (left) with Taylor Herman (right) posing with the flag of Moldova. (Photo courtesy of Taylor Herman)
“For my thesis project, I chose to specifically look at how the European Court of Human Rights has stepped in regarding decisions made in Moldova, and how this has shaped the development of their nation,” Herman explained. “Additionally, McLauchlan and I organized an event together for Constitution Day last fall, where Moldovan and USF students sat on an international panel to discuss the role of the U.S. Constitution and rule of law in our societies. This was a collaboration between the USF St. Petersburg Center for Civic Engagement and USF St. Petersburg Student Government.”
The nine-month duration of the scholarship, combined with Herman’s interest in Moldova, has her excited to learn more about the culture and share stories with her students.
“I am excited to hear what thoughts my students have on the direction of Moldova, especially in consideration of developing regional politics. Culturally, Moldova has a very rich and complex identity influenced by both its neighbor Romania and its past connection to the Soviet Union. I hope that during my time there, I will learn just as much from my students about their family histories and practices in the region, as I am sharing with them about life in America,” Herman said.
After her time in Moldova, Herman plans to pursue a graduate degree in international affairs and aims for a career with the U.S. Department of State, focusing on diplomacy, mediation, and public affairs. She hopes this immersive experience will enhance her language skills and better equip her to serve as a representative of the United States.
“It is my goal to advance as a Russian and Romanian language student while teaching English. Living in Moldova is the perfect opportunity to throw myself into an environment where I must grow as a local resident. It is also my hope that I can gain a better understanding through working with the Fulbright and the U.S. Embassy, of how we are viewed as a nation in communities abroad. Outside of teaching, I hope to volunteer with organizations that research human trafficking and assist victims coming across Europe. These experiences will influence my path as an aspiring cultural ambassador in the future and my application to international affairs master’s programs upon my return,” Herman explained.
With this significant achievement, Herman shared her advice with students and educators seeking similar Fulbright opportunities.
Taylor Herman (second from left) with Dr. Judithanne McLauchlan (right) during her freshman research presentation at the Florida Political Science Association Annual Conference. (Photo courtesy of Taylor Herman)
“As a political science major, I initially was unsure of how competitive I would be for an ETA grant in comparison to English, education, or linguistics students. The advice I would give to aspiring educators or scholars is to look at your personal mission and see just how much it aligns with the mission of the Fulbright program. My undergraduate research, internships, and leadership positions gave me a loose idea of what I wanted my purpose to be after graduating from USF. While I am still figuring out the exact path I will follow, I now have a fantastic opportunity to pursue a joint mission this next year with Fulbright in Moldova,” Herman said.
Herman was also recently awarded a Golden Bull, one of USF’s highest honors, given to a select few students each spring semester for their service to the university and community.
As she approaches her graduation this summer 2024, Herman reflects on this achievement and expresses her gratitude to those who have supported her throughout her academic career.
“Pursuing a Fulbright has been a dream of mine during my last three years at USF, however when I submitted my application it felt like a shot in the dark. I never imagined I would make it to the semifinals status or participate in an interview, let alone receive the grant. I am truly humbled and owe this opportunity to the guidance I have received from McLauchlan and the USF Office of National Scholars, in addition to the amazing support from mentors in my past internships and roles at USF St. Petersburg,” Herman said.
For more information on scholarship opportunities, visit the website for the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies.