Faculty Awarded Prestigious Fulbright Scholar Honors
The three professors will work on projects in Spain, Japan and Chile, respectively.
Three Cal Poly faculty members have been awarded the highly competitive Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award for the 2026 academic year, with an additional faculty member named as an alternate. These honors recognize excellence in teaching, research and a shared commitment to advancing global collaboration.
Natasha Neumann, associate professor and co-coordinator of the M.S. Educational Leadership and Administration Program (ELAP) in the School of Education, Bailey College of Science and Mathematics, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Spain. She will be hosted by Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera in Valencia, where she will conduct a project on “Multilingual Learning in Spain & the U.S.: Educational Policy, Leadership, and Teaching Practices,” examining the intersections of language, education policy and leadership across international contexts, with a focus on advancing educational equity and cross-cultural understanding.
David Askay, professor of communication studies in the College of Liberal Arts, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Japan. Hosted by Ritsumeikan University, his research explores how embracing ambiguity — known as yuragi — can enhance creative team collaboration. In addition to his research, Askay will teach courses in design thinking and learning from failure, and will work to build infrastructure supporting future student exchanges between Cal Poly and Ritsumeikan University.
Jasmine Nation, professor in the Liberal Studies Department in the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics, has received an award for Chile. She will collaborate with colleagues at the Universidad del Bío-Bío on her project, “Science Teachers as Researchers: Learning from Place-Based Science.” Her work will include co-teaching graduate courses, mentoring teacher-led research, and advancing cross-cultural science education through the University–Community Links network, reflecting a sustained commitment to global partnership and educational innovation.
In addition, Clay McKell has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar alternate to Austria. His proposed project, “Game Theoretic Protocol Design for Energy Efficient Multi-Hop LoRa Networks,” investigates how game-theoretic approaches can improve the performance and energy efficiency of communication in Internet of Things (IoT) systems. His project will be in collaboration with the University of Klagenfurt.
“These awards highlight the exceptional caliber of Cal Poly’s faculty and their dedication to addressing global challenges through research, teaching and collaboration,” said Cari Vanderkar, assistant vice provost for International Programs and Cal Poly’s senior international officer. “We are proud of their achievements and the impact their work will have both internationally and within our campus community.”
Cal Poly’s continued success in the Fulbright program is supported by a strong network of institutional leadership and mentorship. Cari Vanderkar, assistant vice provost for International Programs, serves as Cal Poly’s Fulbright Scholar liaison, providing guidance and coordination for applicants. The university also recognizes the outstanding contributions of Nishi Rajakaruna, professor of biological sciences, Fulbright U.S. Scholar Alumni Ambassador and faculty fellow with Cal Poly’s National and International Fellowships and Scholarships (NIFS) program. His dedicated mentorship and advocacy played a vital role in supporting faculty throughout the Fulbright application process.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is one of the nation’s most prestigious international exchange programs, supporting faculty and professionals as they engage in research and teaching abroad to foster mutual understanding between nations. Since 1946, it 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. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org/.