The International Center is pleased to announce that three Cal Poly faculty members have received the highly competitive Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program awards for the 2026 academic year, with an additional faculty member named as an alternate. The honors recognize excellence in teaching and research, as well as a commitment to advancing global collaboration.
Natasha Neumann, associate professor and co-coordinator of the M.S. Educational Leadership and Administration Program in the School of Education, Bailey College of Science and Mathematics, received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar grant to conduct research in Spain. She will be hosted by Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera in Valencia, where her project, “Multilingual Learning in Spain and the U.S.: Educational Policy, Leadership, and Teaching Practices,” will examine how multilingual education systems are designed and implemented across sociopolitical contexts, with a focus on educational equity.
During her fellowship, Neumann will collaborate with faculty, school leaders and policymakers to analyze bilingual and multilingual instructional models and the leadership practices that support them. Her research will include classroom observations, interviews and comparative policy analysis between Spain and the United States. She also will participate in professional development workshops and academic exchanges, contributing insights from U.S. educational leadership while gaining perspectives to inform her teaching and program development at Cal Poly.
David Askay, professor of communication studies in the College of Liberal Arts, 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. His work investigates how uncertainty and variability can be incorporated into team processes to improve innovation and problem-solving outcomes.
While in Japan, Askay will conduct research with student and professional teams, designing and testing collaborative frameworks that encourage flexible thinking and experimentation. He also will teach courses in design thinking and learning from failure, emphasizing iterative learning and resilience. In addition, he plans to work with institutional partners to build infrastructure supporting future student exchange and collaborative research opportunities between Cal Poly and Ritsumeikan University.
Jasmine Nation, professor of liberal studies in the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics, received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to Chile. She will collaborate with colleagues at the University of Bío-Bío on her project, “Science Teachers as Researchers: Learning from Place-Based Science.” Her work focuses on advancing science education through locally grounded, culturally relevant teaching practices.
During her Fulbright, Nation will co-teach graduate-level courses and mentor in-service teachers as they design and implement research projects rooted in their classrooms and communities. Through the University–Community Links network, she will help strengthen partnerships among schools, universities and local organizations. Her work emphasizes empowering teachers as researchers and fostering cross-cultural exchange in science education.
Clay McKell was named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar alternate to Austria. His proposed project, “Game Theoretic Protocol Design for Energy Efficient Multi-Hop LoRa Networks,” explores how game-theoretic approaches can improve the performance and energy efficiency of communication systems used in Internet of Things networks.
In collaboration with the University of Klagenfurt, McKell’s work would examine how individual network nodes can make decentralized decisions — such as selecting transmission parameters, adjusting payload lengths or determining when to relay information — that collectively optimize overall network performance. His project aims to identify equilibrium strategies that balance energy use with data throughput. His Fulbright activities also would include teaching digital communications courses and delivering invited lectures on game theory and network control.
“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.
Cal Poly’s continued success in the Fulbright program is supported by institutional leadership and mentorship. Vanderkar also serves as Cal Poly’s Fulbright Scholar liaison, providing guidance and coordination for faculty applicants. The university also recognized 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 program, for mentorship and advocacy supporting faculty throughout the application process.
Cal Poly continues to demonstrate its commitment to global engagement through programs supported by the International Center and scholarship advising through the National and International Fellowships and Scholarships office. Vanderkar and Rajakaruna also serve as campus contacts for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
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. Since 1946, it has provided more than 400,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals with opportunities to study, teach and conduct research abroad in support of mutual understanding among nations.
For more information, visit fulbrightprogram.org.