Stories

Alec Qualitza '23, a psychology and public health science double major, has been selected for a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to study international development in Spain.

Alec arrived at Santa Clara as a first-generation college student, finding his footing through the LEAD Scholars Program, and spent his undergraduate years weaving together psychology, public health, and a commitment to community. A double major in psychology and public health science with a minor in political science, he was a research assistant to associate professor of communication Chan Thai, studying how Residential Learning Communities shape student mental health and well-being. That collaboration proved lasting: the two went on to co-author a publication in the journal Children, examining how parental support relates to adolescent emotional well-being. As a community facilitator in a campus residence hall, Qualitza saw firsthand how much environment and relationships shape students’ flourishing, and the research gave him a language for what he had been practicing all along.

After graduating in 2023, Qualitza spent two years in Spain through the CIEE Teach in Spain program, supporting students’ linguistic and emotional development and deepening his sense of cultural humility and global awareness. Since returning, he has worked at Bard NYC supporting student life through programming and community building. His Fulbright Research Award will take him back to Madrid to pursue a master’s degree in international development, building on his research background and his years living and working abroad.

“Becoming a Fulbright cultural ambassador fulfills my lifelong commitment to global service,” said Qualitza. “My social science education at Santa Clara showed me the urgent need for equitable development internationally, and I’m grateful to the faculty who supported me. I look forward to expanding on my undergraduate health equity work, deepening cultural ties in Spain, and pursuing a career shaping policy aligned with the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.”

About The Fulbright Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards approximately 2,000 grants annually in all fields of study. Recent graduates and graduate students undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and primary and secondary teaching worldwide.  Founded in 1946, the Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. For further information please visit https://us.fulbrightonline.org/.