Newark native and recent University of Richmond graduate awarded Fulbright to teach English in Mexico

Rocío Posada-Castañeda, daughter of José Posada and Veronica Castañeda of Newark, Delaware, has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. She graduated from the University of Richmond May 13. 

Posada-Castañeda, who double majored in healthcare studies and Latin American, Latino and Iberian studies and minored in anthropology, will complete her year-long Fulbright award in Mexico beginning in September. She is fluent in Spanish and speaks Portuguese.

“I have the opportunity to go back to the country of my heritage and work in education,” Posada-Castañeda said. “As a cultural ambassador, I will represent what it means to be a first-generation Latina in the U.S. while experiencing Mexico's cultural diversity.”

During her time at the University of Richmond, Posada-Castañeda studied abroad in Chile and traveled throughout South America. She interned twice in Peru with the Richmond Global Health Alliance and as an English tutor with Peruvian Hearts. After completing her Fulbright grant, she will be joining the Teach for America 2019 Corps.

Eight recent Richmond graduates were awarded Fulbright grants, the most in the institution’s history. Previously, the top number of Fulbright recipients was six in 2009. To date, the University of Richmond has had 56 student Fulbright grant recipients.

Nearly 10,000 students from about 700 institutions applied for one of more than 1,900 grants to study, conduct research and teach abroad for the 2018-19 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields.

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The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program places recent college graduates and young professionals as English teaching assistants in primary schools, secondary schools or universities overseas - improving foreign students’ English language abilities and knowledge of the United States, while increasing the U.S. student's own language skills and knowledge of the host country, according to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.