Zair Hashi ’26 receives Fulbright to teach in Uruguay

Augsburg University is proud to announce that psychology major Zair Hashi ’26 has been selected as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to Uruguay for 2026–27. The English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Programs place Fulbrighters in classrooms abroad to provide assistance to the local English teachers, while serving as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. “Winning a Fulbright can be life-changing, opening up new experiences, connections, and opportunities,” said Jacqueline deVries, professor of history and Augsburg’s Fulbright program advisor.

While Hashi’s eventual professional goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in pediatric neuropsychology, he’s drawn to teaching and mentoring young people and sees this opportunity in Uruguay to provide invaluable experience in a global environment. “For me, this opportunity connects directly to my long-term interest in understanding how culture and environment shape the brain and behavior, especially in clinical settings,” Hashi said. “I see it as a chance to step outside of a purely academic perspective and actually learn from a different system and community in a real, grounded way.”

Hashi became particularly interested in Uruguay’s program when he first learned about the country’s strong educational system, varied population, and cultural life during a Spanish class he took three years ago. He appreciates Uruguay’s commitment to providing free, compulsory education and the programs designed to meet students’ technological needs across the country. He’s eager to learn more about the country’s traditions and festivals highlighting different aspects of Uruguayan culture. “Seeing Uruguay create and nurture spaces that celebrate identity and community reflects values I also admire in the United States,” Hashi said.

As a child of immigrant parents, Hashi said he empathizes with students from diverse backgrounds and can adapt his teaching style to create an inclusive learning environment, even in another country. He grew up in the Twin Cities suburbs, playing sports, joining clubs, and volunteering. When his family traveled to Kenya to take care of his ill grandmother, Hashi adapted to a Kenyan classroom with different expectations and cultural norms. As a Muslim student attending a Christian-affiliated university, interfaith understanding has been part of his everyday life. Additionally, English is Hashi’s second language; he remembers what it was like to learn more than one language during childhood and expects to bring aspects of that experience to his time in Uruguay, especially as he learns from the students in his classrooms.

“I aim to be a living example to them that there isn’t just one way to learn a language,” Hashi said. “In return, I hope they can show me their language and their culture. I hope they can share with me the joys of Spanish outside my textbooks and share with me Uruguayan culture so that I can enjoy it with them.”

Hashi made a strong impression on Augsburg’s Campus Committee Evaluation team—a group of academic professionals who recommended him for the ETA program.

“Zair Hashi is one of the most delightful students I have met in my 30 years of teaching,” deVries said. “Every encounter with him reveals a new story and layer of experience, all of which he recounts with joyful enthusiasm. He is an excellent student, but even more, he brings a collaborative spirit. Zair listens to those around him and seeks to understand.” Established in 1946 as an investment in global peace and American prosperity through educational and cultural exchange, the prestigious Fulbright Program has provided nearly 450,000 students, scholars, scientists, professionals, teachers, scientists, and artists with opportunities to study, conduct research, and teach in over 160 countries and territories around the world.  Learn more about Augsburg’s strong record of Fulbright awardees over the years.