May 29, 2026
Photo courtesy of Ashley McGarrah
Ashley McGarrah, a sophomore at the University of Missouri, will explore the field of social work this summer at the University of Bristol in England through the Fulbright UK Summer Institutes program. While there, McGarrah will enroll in courses tied to various social issues taught by historians, academics and practitioners.
The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes program provides undergraduate students from the United States with little or no travel experience outside of North America the opportunity to explore the culture, heritage and history of the United Kingdom while attending a UK university.
“I was unbelievably excited to receive this scholarship,” McGarrah, a social work major who is also pursuing the Honors College Certificate, said. “I am especially excited because I would likely have been unable to study abroad without this opportunity, as it covers the full cost of attendance.”
Along with learning more about Bristol and the UK in general, McGarrah will enhance her leadership skills and be empowered to build community, transform culture and grow as a changemaker through the program. She’ll meet locals and get involved in a variety of community, civic and arts activities.
“Opportunities like the one awarded to me through Fulbright are extremely important, especially in the field of social work,” McGarrah said. “They serve as a way for me to connect my knowledge, which I have learned in the classroom, with real-life issues and initiatives.”
The Fulbright award will serve as another hands-on learning opportunity for McGarrah. She has been active during her time as a Tiger, especially through research. She is currently researching criminogenic risk individuals with traumatic histories along with Ashley Givens, an associate professor in the College of Health Sciences.
McGarrah also serves as an office aide for the Mizzou Office of Undergraduate Research, where she helped the office with numerous events, such as the Visual Arts Showcase and the Fall and Spring Research Days.
Read more from the Office of Global and National Fellowships
