Congratulations to Haley Chung (CC'23) and Daisy Nuñez Torres (CC'26), who have been selected for the 2026–2027 Fulbright U.S. Student Grants. Fulbright awards grants for students to conduct independent research, study, and teach in over 160 countries.
Haley Chung, CC’23, will be going to France for an English Teaching Assistantship. Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Haley Chung graduated from Columbia College with a double-major in Film and Media Studies and Human Rights. Upon graduation, she was a Fred Rogers Productions writing fellow, which led her to write for a variety of PBS children’s television shows, such as Rosie's Rules, Donkey Hodie, and Lyla in the Loop. Haley was also selected for a writing fellowship with Film Independent’s ‘Project Involve’, where she wrote a stop-motion animated short with support from LAIKA Studios. As a Fulbright grantee, Haley is excited to immerse herself in and learn from a new pedagogical system to inform her personal philosophy on effective public education. Haley will be an English teaching assistant in Lyon, France, where she will continue to write and aim to try all of the local cheeses.
When asked about her time at ISHR, Haley said: "Years after graduating, the lessons, stories, and most of all, amazing people that I encountered during my time in the human rights department at Columbia have continued to stick with me. Even though my current career is not in the human rights field, I still find myself thinking back in my daily life on urban space book recommendations from a TA or theoretical frameworks on compassion from former professors. Being a part of ISHR gave me new perspectives to see the world from, and it's something I'll cherish for many years to come."
Daisy Nuñez Torres, CC’26, will travel to South Korea for an English Teaching Assistantship. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Daisy Nuñez Torres studied Political Science and Human Rights and complemented her studies with coursework in East Asian Studies. Raised in a bilingual, immigrant household, she developed a keen awareness of the intersection of language, migration, and access, and how these forces shape opportunity. Throughout her time at Columbia, Daisy sought to expand educational access for students from underrepresented backgrounds through multiple mentorship roles. To that end, she served as a Returning Advising Fellow with the Matriculate college advising program, and as a Peer Mentor with Columbia’s Academic Success Programs. She was also a College Advising Intern with SEO Scholars (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity). As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in South Korea, Daisy looks forward to fostering cultural exchange among her students while supporting language development through interactive and student-centered learning. Following her Fulbright year, she plans to pursue graduate studies and a career at the intersection of law, immigration, and human rights.
"My time at Columbia was shaped by the Human Rights Department's commitment to interdisciplinary learning and global engagement, which gave me the opportunity to deepen my interest in East Asian Studies. Through its curriculum, my professors exemplified what it means to engage across cultures with empathy, humility, and a commitment to lifelong learning. I'm grateful for the department's support throughout my academic journey and look forward to bringing those values into my work as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in South Korea," shared Daisy about her experience at ISHR.
