Allie Murphy, a Master of Public Health candidate at the University of Texas Medical Branch's School of Public and Population Health, has been selected for the highly competitive Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to conduct public health research in El Salvador during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Murphy will partner with the University of Gerardo Barrios to evaluate the effectiveness of El Salvador's National Intersectoral Strategy for the Prevention of Pregnancy in Girls and Adolescents, a decade-long government initiative launched in 2016 that concludes in 2027. Her research will combine quantitative trend analysis with qualitative community surveys to assess sexual health education needs and inform future public health strategies.
"It is an unbelievable honor to be selected for the Fulbright Student Award," Murphy said. "The application process was extensive—in total, creating the proposal took over four months. When I received the acceptance letter, the most rewarding part was being able to deliver the good news and thank everyone who helped me through this process."
The Fulbright Program, established by Congress in 1946, is the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program. With approximately 8,000 awards given annually worldwide, Fulbright recipients are selected through a highly competitive process that evaluates academic excellence, project feasibility, and leadership potential. Notable alumni include 62 Nobel laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 44 heads of state or government.
Dr. Kristen Peek, Dean of the School of Public and Population Health, praised Murphy's selection in announcing the award to the SPPH community and UTMB leadership.
"Her commitment to improving reproductive and sexual health outcomes in underserved communities—both abroad and here in Texas—demonstrates the caliber of leadership, integrity, and impact that defines the Fulbright mission," Peek said.