Glen Kettering is First UR Student to Receive Gilman-McCain Award
In the fall of 2024, Glen Kettering, ’26, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, was named a Gilman-McCain Scholar. Kettering is the first UR student to receive this award, which supports outstanding undergraduates who are dependents of active U.S. service members.
Kettering, who is majoring in global studies with a concentration in politics and governance and minoring in environmental studies, used the funding to offset costs to study abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, Kettering took European/Czech political and history courses through the CIEE’s Central European Studies program.
“I have always been fascinated with international politics and global events,” said Kettering. “One of my courses was taught by the former foreign minister of the Czech Republic.”
It was his first time studying abroad, and while overseas, he traveled to 14 countries.
“I’m grateful for all the resources UR provided me to make this dream of living, learning, and traveling overseas a reality,” said Kettering.
“I’m grateful for all the resources UR provided me to make this dream of living, learning, and traveling overseas a reality.”
The Gilman-McCain award is a subset of the State Department’s Gilman Scholarship Program and is named in honor of former U.S. Senator and Navy officer John McCain.
“This award was meaningful to me as it recognizes the often unseen lives of military kids and dependents,” said Kettering. “I lived in four states and moved to nine schools during my K–12 education.”
Kettering is interested in conservation and has served as president of the Outdoors Club at UR and volunteered with the James River Park System and at other state and national parks. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language, and he is studying Czech.
University of Richmond Named Fulbright Top Producer
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognized the University of Richmond as one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
It was the ninth time and seventh year in a row that Richmond was named a top producer of Fulbright students, with six awards offered for the 2024–25 academic year.
“Global connectivity is an important component of our educational mission,” said Joan Saab, executive vice president and provost. “In addition to many international opportunities we offer as a university, the Fulbright program is a wonderful way for our students to engage in international study, and participants bring their incredible experiences and knowledge from across the world back to our campus, which benefits our entire community.”
University of Richmond students were awarded Fulbright grants to live, work, and study around the world, including in Bulgaria, Chile, Mexico, and Taiwan. Richmond has had 83 student Fulbright grant recipients.
The Fulbright program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to support academic exchanges between the U.S. and countries around the world.
“International exchange is an enriching way for our students and young alums to enhance their lives personally, academically, and professionally. The consistent recognition as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution showcases our commitment to providing Richmond students with global connections and international opportunities.”
Study Abroad for all Spiders
According to the latest Open Doors Report, Spider students earn more credits for participation in study abroad than students at any other baccalaureate college. Richmond also ranks No. 2 for the number of students studying abroad for a quarter- or semester-long program. Seventy percent of UR students graduate with international experience.
“The Open Doors ranking is a reflection of UR’s dedication to ensuring all Spiders have access to a study abroad experience that complements their studies, career goals, and personal interests,” said Martha Merritt, dean of international education.
UR offers students many ways to study abroad, including research and internship opportunities, traditional semester-long programs, and the award-winning EnCompass program, which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary.
EnCompass offers undergraduates a fully funded, short-term option for study abroad. This lowers barriers for those otherwise reluctant to go abroad due to costs, unfamiliarity, or conflicting obligations. For example, since its launch in 2019, EnCompass has been a guiding light for student-athletes with intense training and competition schedules.
During one fall break, eight student-athletes traveled to Costa Rica, visited an Indigenous reserve, learned Caribbean folk culture, and conducted youth sports clinics.
EnCompass has taken 118 students and 30 faculty and staff leaders on journeys to 13 countries. The program encourages students within the first two years of their Richmond experience to participate in these trips and apply their global learnings to their studies and their lives long after they return.
On one EnCompass trip last spring, biology professor Kristine Grayson and chemistry professor Jon Dattelbaum led an expedition to New Zealand called “Conservation and Restoration: From the River City to Aotearoa.” The professors returned in May 2025 and lead students in an immersive experience and to explore more themselves.
“One of the coolest experiences was hiking at night up to one of the only mainland locations where a particular endangered seabird nests,” Grayson said. “The birds began to circle around us, and we witnessed firsthand the restoration work.”
Students read literature on Māori culture during a half-unit course on campus, preparing for the experiences they would encounter in the coming weeks.
“A few times during the lead-up, I wondered, ‘Is this really sticking?’” Grayson said. “Then, while on the trip, students would say, ‘I remember this. We talked about this!’ It was so exciting to see how much they were thinking about these experiences before, during, and after.”