Guilherme Pinho, who will receive a BA in political science and German from the University of Iowa in May 2023, is the winner of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Award to Germany for 2023-24. 

Hometown: Le Claire, Iowa 
Degree:  BA, political science and German 

Could you give us a brief synopsis of what you'll be doing with your Fulbright?  
As an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Germany, I will be assisting with English lessons in a local school. I will also help the community by hosting evening English classes and providing information about working/studying in the U.S. I am most excited to begin hosting weekly “Cars & Coffee” meetings to teach my students about American car culture. 

How do you envision this will influence your life/future career? 
I hope to one day work in diplomatic affairs, however specific that might be, where a Fulbright experience will prove indispensable. The goal of my time with the local community will be to foster closer ties between it and the U.S., which should prove great practice for the same thing among nations. Getting to practice German will also help me become more fluent. 

What advice do you have for future students interested in applying for a Fulbright? 
Pick a place and a purpose. Knowing what you want to accomplish means you only need to find out how to say it and why it needs to happen there. Let your advisor and many people hear you say it, then work and rework. 

Were there experiences at the UI that inspired you to pursue a Fulbright? 
My experience with German courses at the University of Iowa and time spent studying abroad helped me reach a level of German I never thought I could. A Fulbright seemed the perfect junction between this new skill and my political science degree. 

Are there individuals you'd like to thank for their investment in this process? 
I would like to thank Karen Wachsmuth and Ari Natarina. They'll be there for you throughout the application process. Thank you to Professor William Reisinger. I would also like to thank Bruce Nottingham-Spencer and Michael Swellander, professors of German. Finally, thank you to Ambassador Ronald McMullen and English instructor Christiane Portele for recommending me.  

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