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For the second year in a row, the University of Tampa has been recognized as a “top producer” of awardees for the Fulbright Program, which is the U.S. government’s premier international academic exchange program.

Last year, UTampa was named as a top producer of faculty scholars receiving Fulbright awards. This year, UTampa was named a top producer of students receiving Fulbright awards.

The new numbers were released today by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. UTampa and Rollins College are the only universities in Florida with the top student producing designation in the master’s institution classification and are tied with five other institutions with the fourth highest number of student awards in the nation.

In this academic year, three UTampa recent alumni were awarded Fulbrights:

• Jasmine Villavicencio, who graduated in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in international studies, received an English Teaching Assistant Award and is currently teaching English in Papua New Guinea.
• Jillian Phillips, who graduated in 2025 with a bachelor’s in management and business systems, received a Graduate Studies Award and is currently seeking a master’s degree in data science and analytics, specializing in financial and energy data modeling, at the University of Calgary in Canada.
• Darri Stuber, who graduated in 2025 with a bachelor’s in environmental science and data science, received an Open Study Research Award and is pursuing a master’s in economics at the École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay in France, where she also intends to do research at the Laboratory for Climate and Environmental Sciences.

According to the Fulbright Program, Fulbright Top Producing Institutions such as UTampa put a priority on global connection and encourage members of their campus communities across the U.S. to pursue international opportunities.

Applicants to Fulbright programs at UTampa are supported through the International Programs Office and Thomas G. Pittz, associate dean for international programs.

Pittz said that being named a top-producing Fulbright Student institution is an historic achievement and powerful affirmation of UTampa’s commitment to transformative educational opportunities that prepare students to lead with curiosity, purpose, and global perspective.

“This recognition reflects UTampa’s dedication to international education and experiential learning that equips our students to engage across cultures, tackle complex challenges, and become globally aware leaders,” Pittz said.

Last year, UTampa professors Karla Borja, associate professor of economics, Kendra Frorup, associate professor of art and design, and Dragana Mrvos, a former visiting assistant professor of political science and international relations, received Fulbrights grants.

The Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges.

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program.

Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors, and the world and have included 44 heads of state or government, 63 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 83 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders from all sectors and industries across the U.S. and around the world.