Alexandra Cristian-Scupin

Home University: Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest
Host University: Northeastern University
Field: Civil Engineering

For me, Fulbright came as a challenge for finding new ways of exploring development opportunities in an academic context I had always admired without having the chance to experience it. I started the application journey with little hopes for success, but Fulbright ended up being the most accomplishing program I have ever attended. Looking back, I feel like I can say the Fulbright Program was the period I felt I truly experienced an accelerated personal and professional growth. As a visiting researcher at Northeastern University, I learnt how important it is to be curious, enthusiastic and open to pivoting between research topics to build meaningful connections between people and cultures.

The academic experience offered by the host university built new benchmarks for me, through a wide range of activities, such as graduate group meetings, invited lecturers, professional workshops and informal sitting in graduate courses. Meeting everyday students which were so committed and determined to build their career path sparked a different kind of enthusiasm for me. I had the opportunity to study and concentrate on research in an environment focused on development strengthened by academic discipline. I was overwhelmed by the openness of both academics and professionals, which were willing to guide, inform and inspire me on finding a meaningful way to contribute to the challenges faced by the existing built environment in Boston. With the seismic engineering background I had, Boston looked like an exciting background for assessing the structural threats faced by masonry buildings. However, I quickly understood the importance of finding a relevant input, at the intersection of my research objectives and the current engineering concerns the city faced for its existing building stock.

Besides the academic opportunities, there were countless social events and cultural activities I was fortunate to enjoy during the Fulbright Program. From Thanksgiving parade in Plymouth to online history talks about Wampanoag indigenous communities from Massachusetts, art museums and university sport games, Boston proved to be a never-ending source of entertainment and cultural enrichment. Being part of the Fulbright Scholar cohort from 2024, I also had amazing chance to attend the Fulbright Scholar Enrichment Seminar organized by IIE in Cleveland, Ohio which consisted in four days of captivating seminars from a broad range of perspectives, all targeting the topic of Public Health Innovations. It was truly inspiring how much I had in common with fellow Fulbrighters from around the world and to feel the momentum generated by our newly formed connections deeply rooted on the goal of translating passion into impact.

As I reflect on what Fulbright meant for me, I can only recall the inspiring speech made by Elliot Grainge, a successful entrepreneur and Northeastern graduate, during the 2025 Commencement: “As you leave Northeastern and prepare to head into the world, you will hear NO a thousand times. F#@%’ em. Keep going, pivot, double down, pivot again. You might not land your dream job tomorrow, but I promise you this: you will find your path. Stay open to the invisible doors around you. Listen for them. Listen to the ones you trust. Listen to the world around you. Most of all, listen to yourself. You are the future, and the future starts now.”