Kristi Meyer receives Fulbright award to advance global opportunities for underrepresented STEM students

Kristi Meyer (on left) with members of her Fulbright cohort at TU Darmstadt

Kristi Meyer, assistant dean for special programs in the UTSA Honors College, recently returned from a two-week seminar in Germany sponsored by the Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Award.  

Designed to provide U.S. higher education administrators with an in-depth understanding of the higher education landscape in other countries, the award allowed Meyer to attend lectures, workshops and campus visits across Germany to support her vision of expanding global learning experiences for UTSA students. 

"Being immersed in a new country, learning about their education systems, and doing it with a group of fellow educators from across the U.S. was an extraordinary experience," Meyer shared. "I am committed to helping students become global citizens through transformational learning experiences. Study abroad—especially rigorous, academically focused experiences—is paramount to achieving this learning outcome."

Noting that 60% of UTSA Honors College students are in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, Meyer believes her participation in the Fulbright IEA program will help connect students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, with STEM research and internship opportunities in Germany.  

For decades, the UTSA Honors College has been a model in providing transformative experiential learning opportunities—such as study and research abroad—that empower students to explore their passions and develop skills that enhance their graduate education and career prospects. Known for designing impactful programs, the college offers diverse international experiences ranging from off-the-grid ecological study in Costa Rica to cultural immersion in Japan. Additionally, Honors College students, especially those in the college’s merit scholar programs, are uniquely supported and encouraged to have global experiences before they graduate. 

Building on this strong foundation, Meyer aims to establish a STEM-focused study abroad pipeline in collaboration with the UTSA Global Initiatives office, creating opportunities for Honors College students to pursue research, internships, and exchange programs with leading German institutions. 

"Germany’s research landscape and the opportunities available there are extremely well aligned with our students’ academic interests in fields like neuroscience, computer science, and cybersecurity," she said. "UTSA’s STEM programs prepare students to meet global challenges, and this experience will enable me to establish pathways for students to gain valuable international experience through research and internships in Germany."

UTSA provides students with global experiences at various German institutions. This includes reciprocal student exchanges, research opportunities at Technische Universitat Darmstadt, and specialized programs like the CyberAI Winter School. 

"We are proud of Kristi and her dedication to expanding globally immersive high impact learning opportunities for students," said Lisa Montoya, UTSA vice provost for global initiatives and senior international officer. "This Fulbright award exemplifies UTSA’s commitment to fostering international collaboration and building pathways that enrich students’ academic and professional lives. We’re excited about the opportunity to open doors for more UTSA students while strengthening our role as a globally engaged university." 

UTSA was recently named a Fulbright HSI Leader for the third year in a row based on its active engagement with the Fulbright Programs. Fulbright is the flagship international exchange program of the U.S. Department of State that operates in over 160 countries worldwide.   

EXPLORE FURTHER

• Learn more about Fulbright opportunities for students, faculty and administrators at the Fulbright at UTSA website. 
• Explore how UTSA administrators can apply for the Fulbright IEA award. 
• Learn more about the UTSA Honors College and UTSA Global Initiatives, which oversees study abroad programs.