As Wofford’s 2026-27 Fulbright recipients, Godwins Tuyishime ’24, Emma Rose Radcliff ’26 and Reece McCarthy ’26 are tasked with bridging cultures and passing on a love of learning.
Founded in 1946 and overseen by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright U.S. Program allows recent college graduates, faculty and professionals to teach, conduct research, pursue graduate studies and carry out professional projects in over 140 countries. Tuyishime, Radcliff and McCarthy bring Wofford’s total number of Fulbright recipients to 24.
“This is a very competitive year for Fulbright, and the fact that we had seven students who were recommended as semifinalists and three recipients is a testament to the power of Wofford’s distinctive liberal arts education,” says Dr. Ramón Galiñanes Jr., director of undergraduate research and post-graduate fellowships. “I am excited for Godwins, Emma Rose and Reece and all the good that they will do in the world by building bridges, teaching and serving as representatives of the United States and Wofford.”
Tuyishime, a data and information fellow in Wofford’s Career Center, chose to complete his Fulbright in Kigali, Rwanda, to reconnect to his heritage. Though his family now calls Charleston, South Carolina, home, he is originally from Rwanda and has not been back since he was a baby.
“Fulbright is an opportunity for me to deepen my understanding of the culture and explore our shared values,” he says. “I hope that sharing my journey will strengthen relationships between Rwanda and the U.S.”
While abroad, Tuyishime will work as an English teaching assistant at a secondary school and will volunteer at the U.S. embassy to run programs in the American Center. His work will include leading conversations on U.S.-related issues and running trainings on spoken English, business and entrepreneurship.
Tuyishime says study abroad trips to London and Morocco while at Wofford, where he majored in biology and completed a minor in math and a concentration in data science, have prepared him to make the most of his year abroad.
“These experiences taught me how to adapt to new environments and be a cultural ambassador,” he says.
Tuyishime hopes to visit cultural sites like the Nyanza Royal Palace, Carnegie Mellon University’s Africa Campus and the Kigali Convention Center. He also plans to participate in community cleanup projects during Umuganda, Rwanda’s community works holiday.
Radcliff also chose her Fulbright location to connect to her roots.
The history major and government minor from Pawleys Island, South Carolina, will travel to North Rhine-Westphailia in Germany to teach English to high school students. She will also get a chance to visit her extended family in Bavaria.
“My grandmother came to America from Germany in the 1970s, so my German heritage has always been a big part of my life,” she says. “I got to reconnect with some of my relatives while studying abroad in Vienna. I am excited to go back and keep learning about the language and culture.”
As a teacher, Radcliff hopes to pass on a love of learning to her students — and learn a little from them along the way.
“It will be interesting to compare what life is like for a young adult in Germany with what it is like in America,” she says. “I hope I can show my students how a passion for education can transcend borders.”
Radcliff says the skills she has gained at Wofford — especially through study abroad and her internship at the German American Heritage Museum in Washington, D.C. — have given her the confidence to pursue her goals. She is especially grateful to Dr. Kirsten Krick-Aigner, professor of German, for advising her during the application process.
“At Wofford, I have been pushed to be my best self. I feel well prepared for professional life, with writing skills, interviewing skills and German-language skills,” says Radcliff, who plans to attend law school after her Fulbright experience.
McCarthy also credits Wofford — and Krick-Aigner’s guidance — with giving him the confidence to apply for the Fulbright. The German and international affairs double major from Aiken, South Carolina, will travel to Germany and work as an English teaching assistant.
“The quality and interdisciplinary nature of Wofford’s education gave me the tools to reach beyond my majors and pursue an opportunity such as Fulbright,” he says.
McCarthy’s intellectual curiosity and passion for cultural exchange inspired him to teach while abroad.
“Educators throughout my life have fostered within me an intense love of learning, which has given me a strong sense of purpose,” he says. “I want to return this gift in a new, challenging environment.”
With seven years of German language experience and a study abroad trip to Berlin under his belt, McCarthy is excited to return and fully immerse himself in the culture.
“I hope to visit and experience Germany’s various states as well as my own assigned area, which is home to various historical sites dating back to the Romans,” he says. “I’m also excited to visit the renowned Christmas markets.”
Following his Fulbright experience, McCarthy plans to pursue a career in foreign policy or academia.