Cecily Hetzel ’24 awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant

Cecily Hetzel ’24 is headed to the Canary Islands after being awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) for the 2024-25 academic year. She will teach English to children on one of the eight Spanish islands off the coast of Morocco.

“As I’ve been learning Spanish for almost a decade now, I’ve realized that language is more than a means of communication, but a powerful tool to connect with others in a globalized world. I believe that bilingualism is an important skill that has granted me access to new perspectives and enriched my understanding of the world,” said Hetzel, a psychology major, Hispanic studies minor and scholar in the Public Health Pathway from Libertyville, Illinois, whose family recently moved to Franklin, Tennessee.

“As a Fulbright ETA, I want to inspire students to see language as a portal to understanding.”

Fulbright fellows receive round-trip travel to their host countries, a living stipend, project allowances and medical insurance. Connecticut College has had 33 winners in the last seven years and is regularly recognized as a top producer of Fulbright recipients.

Hetzel said she has always wanted to immerse herself in a Spanish-speaking country, but her commitment as a forward on the women’s ice hockey team kept her from venturing too far for too long during her years at Conn. The Fulbright fellowship, however, provides the perfect opportunity. “I wanted to go somewhere where I could use my Spanish and work in the environment and the culture and the Fulbright puts those two together seamlessly,” she said.

Hetzel said she is most looking forward to meeting new people, getting involved with the community and learning the local lingo—she puts herself at about 85% fluency in Spanish and expects to reach total fluency after an entire academic year of immersion.

At Conn, Hetzel is a board member and journal editor for the College’s chapter of psychology honor society Psi Chi. She serves as a research assistant to Assistant Professor of Psychology Kendell Coker, working with him on a blueprint to help policymakers make informed decisions about gun control.

After her Fulbright fellowship, Hetzel hopes to become a forensic psychologist either in a correctional institution or for the government or FBI. Last summer, she interned under a unit counselor at a maximum-security prison in Nashville, helping with assessments and meeting with prisoners.

Connecticut College offers a wide range of fellowship opportunities for students and recent graduates. For more information, visit The Walter Commons or email fellowships@conncoll.edu.