Three seniors at Union have earned prestigious international fellowships that will take them abroad to teach, study and build professional experience after graduation. They will travel to Japan and Germany through programs that reflect their academic achievements, global interests and commitment to cross-cultural exchange.
Alanna Byrne
Fellowship: Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program to be an assistant language teacher
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Major / Minor: Psychology and Asian Studies double major, Studio Arts minor
Activities / Internships: Speech Perception and Auditory Neuroscience lab member, Secretary of the Anime Club, Union College Theatre
What are some courses/experiences here at Union that helped prepare you for the fellowship?
Without a doubt, the course Psychology of Language helped me so much in preparing for the JET Program. The course provides an overview of the psychological processes involved in language acquisition, development, production, comprehension, etc., which are all things I want to consider and keep with me as I think about how to teach language to others and what approaches would be most effective and helpful to someone learning English as a second language.
And of course, all of my Japanese courses were super helpful in preparing for the program as well. Though not a requirement for the program, having some prior knowledge of and experience with Japanese language and culture definitely influenced my decision to apply for the JET program specifically. It also made me consider my own language acquisition journey and how I can use that when assisting others in their own language learning.
What do you hope to get (academically or personally) from the experience?
Academically, I am excited to get a new perspective on the language learning process from the perspective of a teacher rather than a student. Language in general is a topic that I am passionate about and I hope that by being involved in the learning process as one that teaches, it will give me new insight on the processes behind language acquisition that may even lead me to pursuing research in graduate school on the topic in the future. Moreover, personally, I hope to be a part of a community abroad and share cultural experiences that I can bring back home with me and contribute to a larger cross-cultural discussion.
Angelica Mosher
Fellowship: Fulbright Student English Teaching Assistant Award in Germany; She will be helping teach English in a school in Germany.
Hometown: Fort Bridger, Wy.
Major / Minor: German studies major with a minor in History and Digital Studies
Activities / Internships: I do English second language tutoring on weekends, I am a tour guide coordinator for Admissions and have been a tour guide since March 2023. I studied abroad in Germany for a term abroad and lived in Germany for a year as an exchange student before coming to Union, and am a Resident Advisor for a first year building. I've worked for the football team here at Union since the spring of 2023 filming practices and games.
What are some courses/experiences here at Union that helped prepare you for the fellowship?
I was able to do an independent study on pedagogy on the teaching of intro level german which allowed me to work on developing curriculum and creating lesson plans and I am planning.
What do you hope to get (academically or personally) from the experience?
I am hoping to improve upon and further develop my instructional skills while also getting to experience more aspects of German culture.
Papa Ndiaye
Fellowship: Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals
Hometown: Schenectady, N.Y.
Major / Minor: Electrical Engineering major and German Studies minor
Activities / Internships: German Club vice president, National Society of Black Engineers senator, Electrical Engineering intern at Grant & Vine Consulting Engineers, coach at Niskayuna Soccer Club
What are some courses/experiences here at Union that helped prepare you for the fellowship?
The German courses I completed for my minor played a significant role in preparing me for the CBYX-YP fellowship, particularly by strengthening my ability to communicate effectively in German. Through these courses, I developed my language skills to a level that will allow me to succeed in both academic and professional environments during the fellowship. Additionally, my study abroad experiences in Berlin and Freiburg were especially impactful, as they inspired me to pursue opportunities that would bring me back to Germany. These experiences introduced me to programs focused on professional development and cultural exchange, key aspects of the CBYX-YP fellowship.
What do you hope to get (academically or personally) from the experience?
I am excited to further develop my German language skills, especially through the program’s full-immersion structure and intensive language coursework. The opportunity to work at a German company and study at a university will also help me grow professionally and strengthen my readiness to enter the workforce after completing the fellowship. Beyond academics and career development, I look forward to the personal growth that comes with living and working in a new cultural environment.