麻豆传媒

April 28, 2026

by Lauren Ferguson

麻豆传媒 of New Jersey鈥檚 Maya Charles ’26 is headed to Guatemala on a prestigious Fulbright scholarship.

The double major in Psychology and Spanish Language Studies with a concentration in Spanish for Health and Human Service Professionals, has been selected to work as an English Teaching Assistant at a university in Guatemala to help students learn English.

Dr. Rebecca Root, professor of political science and international studies and director of Ramapo鈥檚 Office of Prestigious Fellowships and Scholarships said Charles鈥� 鈥渃oursework in second language pedagogy, her emotional intelligence, her experience as a Spanish tutor on campus and an English tutor for Guatemalans through Grupo Cajola, and her commitment to a career as a bilingual therapist clearly helped her application stand out.鈥�

By earning the Fulbright Scholarship, Charles, of Wayne, NJ, is joining a bold group of Americans 鈥� and dynamic Roadrunners such as Anna Kozan ’24 and Christina Dwyer ’19 鈥� who have committed to educational and cultural exchange since the program began in 1946.

鈥淭he Fulbright Program has provided nearly 450,000 students, scholars, scientists, professionals, teachers, scientists, and artists with life-changing opportunities to study, conduct research, and teach in over 160 countries and territories around the world,鈥� according to the Fulbright website.

Charles said her Fulbright grant starts on January 15th, 2027 and ends on November 15th, 2027. She sat down to answer questions about the prestigious award and how it may impact her life, as well as the lives of those she plans to help in the future.

Why did you want to apply for a Fulbright Scholarship?

Since I started learning Spanish it has been a dream of mine to travel to Central/South America to visit a Spanish speaking country. To be able to do so while also working in a field I am interested in sounded like a dream come true. Additionally, my career goal is to work with immigrant, Spanish-speaking children as a clinician or counselor in the future, and having this type of linguistic/cultural experience is a big step towards reaching this goal.聽

What drew you to this field?

There is a significant lack of psychologists who are able to provide services in languages other than English in the United States. As someone who was already interested in child psychology I wanted to be able to also use my Spanish language skills to make a difference in the lives of Spanish-speaking clients who have immigrated to the United States. Accessibility to psychological services is incredibly important for every demographic, and Spanish-speaking immigrants in the United States face unique challenges in obtaining these services. My goal is to contribute to this field in a way that helps make access to these services available for everyone.聽

Why How will your Fulbright experience enrich your life and future career?

Cultural competency is incredibly important when it comes to providing psychological services to people of varying demographic backgrounds. I hope that this cultural immersion will help me better understand my future clients. I also hope to perfect my Spanish while I am in Guatemala and be able to become certified as bilingual when I return. Having this experience will also help give me a different perspective on the world in general, which I think is important for everyone.聽

How does it feel to earn the Fulbright Scholarship?

I am absolutely thrilled. Hearing that I had won the scholarship was amazing news. I am so proud of myself and so thankful to the professors and faculty at Ramapo who helped me succeed. I can鈥檛 wait to see where this experience will take me!聽

Whom would you like to thank for their support and investment in your Fulbright journey and why?

I would like to thank all of the Psychology and Spanish language professors and faculty at Ramapo for helping me learn, encouraging me, and believing in my abilities. Specifically, I would like to thank Dr. Straile-Costa and Dr. Santamaria Laorden for their letters of recommendation and unwavering dedication to my education and success. I would also like to thank Caryn Maxim of Grupo Cajol谩 for her letter of recommendation and support. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Root for all of her help, encouragement, and support through this process. Feeling supported was what helped me succeed the most!聽

Why Is there anything else you would like to say?

I think it is really important for all students at Ramapo to really engage in the things they are most passionate about. Do not hesitate to work hard and strive for new opportunities and success. When you engage in your passion you can change the world around you.聽