Stories

Saron Weldemariam '26, a political science and sociology double major, has been selected for a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to study international affairs in Germany.

For Saron, the path to refugee and migration policy is deeply personal. Born in Eritrea and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Weldemariam came to Santa Clara as a first-generation college student through the LEAD Scholars Program, where she also served as a peer educator mentoring incoming students. A double major in political science and sociology with a minor in international studies, she has been active in Igwebuike, the African Student Association, and the Eritrean Ethiopian Student Association, and participated in multiple immersion trips through the Ignatian Center, including a formative experience in Costa Rica that deepened her sense of purpose around immigrant and refugee communities.

As a Miller Center Lewis Family Fellow, Weldemariam traveled to Rwanda to conduct fieldwork with Inkomoko, a leading lender to refugee entrepreneurs across Africa, carrying out nearly 50 in-depth client interviews and contributing to a final report on access to capital, gender equity, and inclusive enterprise growth. She also served as a Hackworth Fellow at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, developing a middle-school curriculum on refugee and asylum policy, and studied abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. Weldemariam was also selected for a Rotary Global Grant scholarship, which supports graduate students studying abroad in one of the organization’s areas of focus. Her Fulbright Study Award will take her to the Hertie School in Berlin, where she will pursue a master’s degree in international affairs with a concentration in human rights and global governance.

“I am extremely grateful for the entire Fulbright process, which has been both motivating and deeply reaffirming of my interests and readiness for this next step,” said Weldermariam. “I am thrilled for the opportunity to study at the Hertie School and continue exploring refugee and migration policy. I am especially grateful for the support and guidance I received throughout this past year. It meant so much to have so many people believe in me along the way.”

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/.