PBA Students, Faculty Honored

Credit: PBA

(Press Release) July 9, 2025 (West Palm Beach, Fla.) — Six individuals from Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) have garnered international recognition through two prestigious awards, marking a major achievement for each person and the institution.

Three alumni, each of whom graduated in May 2025, were honored with Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) awards, which will see them serving as global cultural ambassadors during the 2025-2026 academic year. Halle Kibben, an English graduate, will serve in the Czech Republic; Rebecca Nacy, who earned a degree in biology, will work in Spain; and Sarah Olson, an elementary education graduate, will travel to Bulgaria. PBA students have now received a total of 20 Fulbright awards in eight years.

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Two faculty members also received Fulbright Scholar awards. Dr. Thomas Parham, professor of communication and media studies, will research how streaming services and U.S. runaway production affect Canadian cultural identity. He will conduct research at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan. Dr. Marcus Valenzuela, associate professor of management, will research “Acculturation in a Hungarian Context: Societal and Organizational Implications,” exploring how migrant workers adapt to new cultural and workplace environments, with implications for both organizational behavior and human resource practices in Hungary. Their awards mark a total of three Fulbright Scholar awards received by PBA faculty in two years.

Additionally, Johnna Ryan, a junior studying English, received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. She will study at the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities Scholarship and Christianity (SCIO) program in Oxford. She is the fifth PBA student to receive the Gilman award in the last four years.

The Fulbright ETA program places U.S. citizens in classrooms abroad to help local English teachers while serving as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and other professionals—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential—with the opportunity to forge lasting connections, counter misunderstandings, and help people and nations work together toward common goals.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The scholarship supports American students in acquiring language skills and cultural insights that are essential for academic and career advancement.

For more information about PBA Fulbright participants and other global scholars, visit www.pba.edu.
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Additionally, Johnna Ryan, a junior studying English, received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. She will study at the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities Scholarship and Christianity (SCIO) program in Oxford. She is the fifth PBA student to receive the Gilman award in the last four years.