Mary Raines Alexander, a recent graduate of Northeastern University and a Mountain Brook High School alum, has received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to serve as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Taiwan for the 2026-2027 academic year.
As a Fulbright ETA, Alexander will teach young Taiwanese students English in Taichung, Taiwan, for approximately 10 months. In country, she will also conduct a community engagement project with hopes of volunteering with a local paper and conducting a journalism project.
Having graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in International Affairs with minors in Mandarin Chinese and French, Alexander seeks to immerse herself in Taiwan’s invaluable position in East Asian politics, specifically the island nation’s critical role in the global energy paradigm. This cultural and language exchange will equip her with not only increased fluency in Mandarin Chinese, but also a more nuanced understanding of the local and national culture as well as America’s role in Taiwan. A foundation that is critical to Alexander’s plans of eventually obtaining her master’s degree in international affairs or international journalism.
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 as a bold investment in global peace and American prosperity through educational and cultural exchange. The Fulbright Program is marking its 80th anniversary in 2026, which coincides with America’s 250th anniversary celebration. This dual milestone provides an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the Fulbright Program’s role in America’s legacy of leadership, innovation, international collaboration and American excellence.
