Villanova HRD Alum, Kelsey Fenner, Selected for Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

The Fulbright Program, an international exchange program sponsored by the US government, offers grants to study, teach and conduct research for U.S. citizens to go abroad and for non-U.S. citizens to come to the United States. There are 155 participating countries and over the past 78 years, over 325,000 individuals have been selected to be a part of this program. One of our very own Villanova HRD students was one of them.

We reached out to Kelsey Fenner, the HRD student who was selected, to learn a bit more about her experience in the HRD program and about her time as a Fulbright scholar.

Why did you select the Villanova HRD program and the field of HR to study?

When I started working at Villanova in 2019, I knew that I wanted to take advantage of the tuition remission benefit. As I explored programs, I was drawn to the HRD program because of its hybrid model and the courses offered. My previous work and graduate research centers around employability and higher education—specifically how higher education and the labor market influence each other. In my work at Villanova, I explore this relationship through development work, identifying skills gaps, and creating processes that build student’s competencies for nationally competitive fellowship and award programs. The HRD program provided the chance to focus more on the employer side of higher education-employment relations. I was specifically interested in the opportunity to take courses within training and development, data analytics, and staffing—all of which were offered in the HRD program. I have also really enjoyed the opportunity to pursue the Business Partner certificate and sharpen my business acumen.

What was the process like choosing where you were going abroad? Did you pick a specific location or was it more of a placement process?

When I was exploring Fulbright programs, I was drawn to the International Education Administrators (IEA) Seminars. Most Fulbright Scholar programs require 3–9-month commitments. As a full-time staff member at Villanova, it would not be feasible for me to leave for that length of time. The Fulbright IEA Seminars are two-week programs designed

for university leaders who have a substantial role in shaping their university’s globalization and internationalization efforts.

These seminars were available in six countries for the 2024 award year and applicants could apply to one. I selected Taiwan because their seminar focused on increasing student and faculty exchange opportunities, which ties to my current work at Villanova. Taiwan’s higher education system is similar to the U.S.’ in structure and function and is facing similar challenges—like the impact of universal participation and the need for universities to adapt their approaches to produce graduates with competencies and skills that fit market needs. I had not travelled to Asia prior to this trip, and the chance to learn more about Taiwan and this region was a draw.

Kelsey in Taipei!

Give us a brief summary of the selection process.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program selection is a two-part process. Your application is first reviewed by a panel of U.S. experts. Applications that make it through this first review are sent to the applicant’s country—for me, Taiwan—for the second review. Final decisions are made by the country. For my program, this process took about four months.

What was your favorite part about your experience and time abroad?

Meeting people! Fulbright is a cultural exchange program that is centered around the exchange of ideas. For me, I had the chance to be part of an incredible cohort of U.S. university leaders and spend substantial time speaking with and learning from Taiwanese university and government leaders. These conversations were incredibly impactful, not only did I learn more about Taiwan’s education system, but also about the history, culture, and economy of Taiwan. When building global partnerships, these relationships and understandings are critical in fostering sustainable exchange.

I also celebrated my birthday in Taiwan! My fellow Fulbrighters and I spent the day sightseeing around Taipei and then went to karaoke together. It was a birthday I’ll always remember!

Kelsey and her fellow Fulbrighters taking part in a tree planting ceremony at National Sun Yat-sen University.

How do you think that your time abroad has impacted your career development or future career aspirations?

In a variety of ways! I learned so much from the other Fulbrighters in my cohort and developed a much stronger network of U.S.-based international educators that is invaluable. Additionally, the knowledge gained and relationships I built in Taiwan have made me a much stronger global educator who is better equipped to positively impact and drive Villanova’s strategic globalization initiatives.

I also think that opportunities to engage in professional development are integral to continued personal and professional growth. I feel incredibly grateful that Villanova supported this endeavor, and that Fulbright selected me—it was an experience that required I expand my comfort zone. From talking to the Director General of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to presenting on U.S. student mobility trends to Taiwan’s university presidents, this seminar required that I represent the U.S. and speak about the country and the higher education sector as an industry expert, which was something I had not done at this level before. As I advance in my career, and incorporate my HR knowledge, I plan to pursue opportunities that center around system-wide skill and competency building for global stakeholders, whether that be students, employees, universities, or companies.

Share a few fun facts about you!

Taiwan was the 29th country I have visited! I love traveling, and working in global education has led to opportunities for travel to new places in the U.S. and internationally that I would not have otherwise had the chance to visit. I’m always planning my next trip!

I’m also a small business owner after turning a COVID hobby into a small clay earring business with my sister. This is a great creative outlet for me. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, skiing, and generally spending time outdoors and being active with friends and family…although on rainy days you’ll find me reading a good book with a nice cup of tea indoors!

About Kelsey:

Kelsey Fenner, SHRM-CP serves as the assistant director and team lead for national scholarships and fellowships in Villanova University’s Center for Research and Fellowships. She joined the University in 2019 and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Binghamton University, a Master of Science from the University of Oxford, and graduated in May with a Master of Science in Human Resource Development at Villanova University. She previously worked at Cornell University in career services.

Kelsey Fenner is a graduate student in the Villanova HRD program. Connect with her on LinkedIn here!