WKU Student Selected for Prestigious Fulbright UK Summer Program

Emma Childress of Elizabethtown to Study Arts, Activism and Social Justice at University of Bristol

Apr. 9, 2026 at 5:30pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a stack of books in vibrant shades of teal, magenta, and sunshine yellow, repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the academic achievements and global ambitions of a university student.A WKU student's selection for a prestigious international scholarship program reflects the university's commitment to developing the next generation of global leaders.Elizabethtown Today

Emma Childress, a second-year, first-generation college student studying English and Environmental, Sustainability, and Geographic Studies at Western Kentucky University, has been selected for the highly competitive Fulbright UK Summer Institutes program. Childress will participate in a fully-funded three-week academic and cultural program on Arts, Activism and Social Justice at the University of Bristol in England.

Why it matters

The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes are one of the most renowned and selective summer scholarship programs in the world, supporting up to 50 first- and second-year undergraduates from the U.S. each year to study at leading institutions in the UK. This opportunity will provide Childress with a transformative international experience and the chance to develop leadership skills, global perspectives, and a deeper understanding of transatlantic collaboration.

The details

Childress, who is currently working on an undergraduate research project analyzing the rhetorical practices used by farmers and farming organizations to develop a framework of sustainable language, hopes to use the program to help make environmental science communication more engaging through 'effective, creative and art-based information.' Outside of her academics, Childress is a member of the Mahurin Honors College and serves as the Coordinator of Membership for HonorsToppers, the honors student ambassador group. She is also a member of the Potter College of Arts and Letter's Dean's Council of Students.

  • Childress was selected for the 2026 Fulbright UK Summer Institutes program.
  • The three-week program at the University of Bristol will take place this summer.

The players

Emma Childress

A second-year, first-generation college student studying English and Environmental, Sustainability, and Geographic Studies at Western Kentucky University.

Dr. Jessi Thomsen

An English faculty member at Western Kentucky University who is working with Childress on an undergraduate research project.

Anna Mayo

An advisor at Western Kentucky University who helps students apply for the Fulbright UK Summer Institutes program.

Rowena Boddington

The Interim Executive Director of the US-UK Fulbright Commission.

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What they’re saying

“When people collectively know their land, and the language surrounding it, they can come together to protect it.”

— Emma Childress, WKU Student

“Emma has a persistence with her work that I don't see very often. Between that and her curiosity at intersections — such as sustainability and language — she already has the foundations of a solid researcher.”

— Dr. Jessi Thomsen, English Faculty Member, WKU

“It seems to me that an experience like this has potential to open up space to ask questions that we didn't know we could be asking. I hope that Emma comes back from this experience with new pathways for her research that she might not have seen otherwise — and that she can put that into action with a project that we are planning for next year.”

— Dr. Jessi Thomsen, English Faculty Member, WKU

“The US-UK Fulbright Summer Institutes program is one of the most competitive undergraduate scholarships out there, but our students have consistently won. Emma is the lucky thirteenth WKU student selected since 2012. We encourage all students who fit the criteria UKSI is looking for to apply. The Office of Scholar Development is here to help, and the process of applying itself is as valuable as the award.”

— Anna Mayo, WKU Advisor

“This year's cohort of participants in the UK Summer Institutes program reflects the very best of intellectual curiosity, leadership, and transatlantic engagement. Through immersive academic and cultural experiences, they will deepen their knowledge while building lasting connections. We are confident that their time in the UK will be transformative, equipping them with the perspectives and networks needed to become future leaders and ambassadors of international collaboration in an increasingly interconnected world.”

— Rowena Boddington, Interim Executive Director, US-UK Fulbright Commission

What’s next

Childress will travel to the University of Bristol in England this summer to participate in the three-week Fulbright UK Summer Institutes program focused on Arts, Activism and Social Justice.

The takeaway

This opportunity highlights the impressive academic achievements and global ambitions of students at Western Kentucky University. Childress' selection for the prestigious Fulbright UK Summer Institutes program demonstrates the university's commitment to providing transformative international experiences that develop the next generation of leaders and ambassadors for international collaboration.