Romania took hold of my heart in 2015 and since then has consumed my mind and soul. As with any genuine commitment, my relationship with this beautiful, complex country has grown and deepened over time as I have learned of its many tragedies, as well as its many triumphs. I have surrendered myself to Romania. [...] As I continue my Romanian journey, I marvel over the resiliency and fortitude of the people. I am fortunate to have developed close relationships, familial in many ways, with many Romanians. And I am eternally grateful to have been granted a Fulbright and honored to become part of this amazing community.
Welcoming the 2026–2027 U.S. Fulbright Cohort to Romania
From September 23 to 25, 2026, the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission welcomed the incoming 2026–2027 cohort of U.S. Fulbright grantees during its annual orientation program in Bucharest.
This year, 32 Fulbrighters and their families took part in the orientation, with several more grantees expected to arrive for the spring semester. In total, 35 American Fulbrighters will contribute to Romania’s academic and cultural life during the 2026–2027 academic year. The cohort includes U.S. Scholars, Student Researchers, and English Teaching Assistants (ETAs), who will teach, conduct research, and engage with communities across 14 Romanian cities.
The three-day program introduced the new grantees to Romania’s higher education system, academic and cultural environment, and the practical aspects of their Fulbright experience.
The first day focused on the ETAs, with sessions on teaching and education in Romania. Dr. Simona Iftimescu of the University of Bucharest introduced participants to Romania’s higher education system and academic culture, while returning ETAs Jessica Reisch, Keshawn Young, and Paris Mercurio shared best practices for teaching EFL and American culture in Romania. The day also gave ETAs an opportunity to meet their university contacts from host cities across the country.
The orientation continued with an official welcome from Romanian and U.S. representatives, including Ms. Tabatha L. Fairclough, Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy; Mr. Andrei Cosmin Luca, Director of the Department of Cultural Diplomacy, Education and Science at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Camelia Nistor, Fulbright Alumna and Lecturer at Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca; and Dr. Mircea Dumitru, Executive Director at the Fulbright Commission. Ms. Fairclough also provided a detailed briefing on security, consular services, health, media, and public diplomacy matters.
Afternoon sessions offered the grantees an opportunity to learn from Fulbright alumni and Romanian academics about adapting to life and work in Romania. Dr. Camelia Nistor, Dr. Mihaela Precup, and Dr. Mihai Dascălu shared perspectives on academic life, while Dr. Ovidiu Olar provided an introduction to Romania’s history, culture, and identity. Additional sessions focused on personal well-being during the Fulbright experience, led by Dr. Cătălina Popoviciu, and offered an introduction to the Romanian language with Dr. Ionuț Geană.
The orientation also included opportunities for informal exchange and community building. A reception at the U.S. Embassy brought together new grantees, Fulbright alumni, and partners, while the program concluded with a guided visit to the Cotroceni National Museum, offering participants an introduction to Romania’s recent history.
We are grateful to all the speakers, alumni, and partners who contributed to the orientation program and helped welcome the new cohort to Romania. The event provided an important first opportunity for the 2026–2027 grantees to connect with one another and with the broader Fulbright community in Romania.
We wish all our grantees a rewarding and successful year and look forward to following their experiences throughout their Fulbright journey.
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More photos are available on the Commission’s Facebook page.
List of 2026-2007 U.S. Fulbrighters