Guiding Scholars Toward Global Purpose

When Lily Tiger, ’24, first received emails from Loyola’s National Fellowships Office, she didn’t give them much thought. The messages encouraged students to apply for prestigious fellowships like the Fulbright U.S. Student Program something Tiger assumed was out of reach.

“Why would I spend six months on something with no guarantee?” she thought. But the idea stuck. “I finally emailed Terre and said, ‘I know I’m late, but I’m interested.’”

“Terre” is Terre Ryan, Ph.D., director of Loyola’s National Fellowships Office and an associate professor of writing. Since 2021, she’s helped students navigate the competitive application process for nationally and internationally funded programs like Fulbright— mentoring them through what often becomes a defining college experience.

Tiger’s email launched a mentorship that led her to spend a year in 2024-25 teaching in Greece through Fulbright’s English Teaching Assistant Program. An English language and literature major, Tiger had studied abroad in Greece and dreamed of returning.

Terre helped me put together an application that was authentic. Going through the process helped me grow so much as a writer and a person.

Tiger’s story is one of many shaped by Ryan’s purposeful approach. Ryan, who came to Loyola in 2011, incorporates Jesuit principles into every advising session. Her work has contributed to Loyola’s recognition among the Six Top Producing Institutions for Fulbright U.S. Students in the Master’s classification.

“I bring in cura personalis, care for the whole person; eloquentia perfecta, helping students express themselves effectively; and magis, which I interpret as striving for the greater good and pushing oneself harder to do better,” Ryan explained. “Loyola’s values are about helping students understand their place in the world and their responsibilities as future leaders. That’s all tied to the work I do in this office.”

That approach resonated with Patrick Boyle, ’25. A double major in leadership and organizational effectiveness and Spanish who studied abroad in Spain, he returned to Spain this fall as a Fulbright English teaching assistant.

“I went to one of Dr. Ryan’s webinars out of curiosity and left thinking, ‘This is what I want to do,’” he remembered.

From there, the process was rigorous, complete with strict deadlines and regular one-on-one meetings. “It’s almost like taking a class,” Boyle said. “Dr. Ryan helps you tailor your story to Fulbright’s goals while keeping it authentic.”

That structure is intentional. Ryan notes that beyond GPA, programs like Fulbright look for leadership, service, and care for the community. “A lot of students are modest. They worry they’ll sound like they’re bragging,” she said. “But they’ve done amazing things—they just need help seeing that.”

Even when students don’t win, the process can be worthwhile and lead to other opportunities.

“Things often work out in unexpected ways,” Ryan said. “Just completing a fellowship application is an achievement. It helps students improve their writing and articulate their future goals.”

For Tiger—now pursuing a career as an English teacher—her Fulbright year deepened her passion for education and cultural exchange. She recalls bridging worlds for her students, like explaining mail-in voting during a U.S. election and leading a unit on book banning in American schools.

“These students become citizen diplomats,” Ryan noted. “They play an important role in strengthening the relationship between our countries through the friendships and networks they establish.”

As Boyle begins his year abroad, he’s excited about showing his students the connections that language learning can create. “It can help you form friendships and lay down roots in another country,” he said. “I want students to see that learning English isn’t just for school; it can open doors in their careers, relationships, and lives.”