August 26, 2026 (West Palm Beach, Fla.) — Three individuals from Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) have earned Fulbright Awards, serving as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. during the 2026-2027 academic year.
Dr. David Escobar Arcay, associate professor of theological studies and director of Latino Church Studies, received a Fulbright Research Grant to begin studies in January 2027 at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain, where he will examine the history of philosophy, focusing on modern Spanish philosophical thought and its broader intellectual significance and implications.
With a diverse background in theology and culture, Dr. Escobar Arcay hopes this work will not only enrich his ability to pour into his students, but also contribute to a larger dialogue across cultures and impact future leaders
“Spanish philosophy forces people to examine assumptions. We are navigating change in the U.S. and across the world,” said Dr. Escobar Arcay, who is originally from Puerto Rico. “So it offers insight into how people respond to times of uncertainty, cultural change, and polarization, for example.”
One student and one alum were honored with Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) awards. PBA alum Mason Chaikin, who earned a business economics degree, won an ETA to the country of Kosovo. There, he will teach university students at the National Library of Kosovo. Chaikin, who credits his success to his professors, also hopes to launch a program that helps young people understand financial literacy and global financial structures, since Kosovo was founded in 2008 and still has a developing economy.
“Getting the Fulbright is a career launchpad, and I am excited to reenter the world of academia; I have always loved school,” he said. “The culture of Kosovo is predominantly Muslim, and it’s very different. I am also excited to immerse myself in a completely different culture.”
Rebecca Nacy, a 2025 alum with a degree in biology, is renewing her Fulbright ETA after a year abroad in Spain. She says this opportunity will allow her to continue pouring into her community there. In addition to serving as an ETA, she will serve as a Culture and Pedagogy Mentor for incoming Fulbrighters in Galicia, Spain—overseeing about 40 people as she helps them navigate travel logistics and settle in.
“PBA really encourages that leadership, so having this experience and helping students get accustomed to their first year [abroad] is a great opportunity,” she said.
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.
These accomplishments now mark a total of four Fulbright Scholar Awards received by PBA faculty in three years and 22 Fulbright Awards to PBA students in nine years.
PBA’s broader Fulbright engagement also includes Henry Webb, professor of business and legal studies, who received a Fulbright Specialist Program grant for a fall 2023 project at the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law in Pangbisa, Bhutan. Webb taught International Business Law and Moot Court, helped develop the school’s common-law curriculum, judged its moot court team, and conducted research on Bhutan’s environmental and natural resources law.
For more information about PBA Fulbright participants and other global scholars, visit www.pba.edu.
