Julia Barclay: Representing UofL on the Global Stage
By: Olivia Barclay, UofL Class of 25, 27 – September 17, 2026
The iconic yellow border on every edition of National Geographic magazine symbolizes a window to the world, giving readers an opportunity to step beyond their everyday lives and travel to new places through its pages. When University of Louisville alumna Julia Barclay first held her grandfather’s subscription as a child, she was in awe of the photographs taken from across the world depicting unique landscapes and people from different cultures. To this day, she still recalls the foldout page of a redwood tree that hung in her room for years. “Once I could start reading the articles, I was fascinated by how big the world was and how differently and diversely people lived and viewed it.”
As that fascination with the world grew, Barclay discovered the Fulbright Program in high school and was immediately interested. The Fulbright Program expands perspectives through academic growth, professional advancement, and cross-cultural dialogue. With more than 140 countries to choose from, applicants have the opportunity to conduct research, pursue graduate study, or teach English abroad. Fulbright is one of the most prestigious cultural exchange programs based in the United States.
Inspired by her interest in global exploration, Barclay developed a passion for learning about cultures that differ from her own. It was the University of Louisville’s reputation with Fulbright that solidified her college decision. “I chose UofL because it was one of the top Fulbright-producing universities in the country. At the time I was accepted into the Fulbright Program, UofL was the number one producer of Fulbright recipients in Kentucky.”
After graduating from the University of Louisville in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Barclay applied for a Fulbright in Spain. Unfortunately, she was not selected, but she joined the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP) to teach English to students in Bilbao and Oviedo, Spain. This gave her two years to immerse herself in Spanish culture and learn how to be an educator. Despite her passion for Spain, Barclay still felt the pull of her Fulbright Program dream, and she was determined to succeed. “I didn’t think getting turned down once was a good enough reason to give up.”
After deciding to apply again, Barclay leaned on the support of faculty and staff at the University of Louisville throughout the application process. “I would not have gotten into the Fulbright Program if it weren’t for the team at UofL that was helping with that,” Barclay admits. Her professors, the Office of International Affairs, and the University Career Center came together for a common goal: to guide a student toward joining the Fulbright Program.
Since proficient writing is considered the most crucial aspect of the application process, Barclay knew this would be an area she would need to concentrate on. To assist with her application materials, she made an appointment with the University Career Center where she received personalized feedback on her resume and cover letter. After multiple drafts and revisions, she felt confident submitting her application.
Barclay was selected from a large candidate pool to serve as an English Teaching Assistant in Lamphun, Thailand, for 7th-12th graders. With hundreds of countries to choose from, why Thailand? Despite enjoying years of travel, Barclay had never ventured to Asia. Not only would this be an excellent opportunity to continue living abroad, but she also knew very little about the culture and wanted a new challenge. She was particularly interested in seeing Thai perspectives on education, culture, and spirituality. Once in Thailand, Barclay quickly discovered her role extended far beyond traditional classroom instruction as Fulbright recipients are ambassadors for the United States who lead educational cultural exchange lessons.
When Barclay was not teaching the lesson plans she curated for her students, she coordinated and facilitated multiple English camps and collaborated with local educators by teaching them her native language. As a result, these teachers were able to earn a specialized certification that would allow them to teach courses in English and advance in their careers. “Teaching English abroad is really special because it gives you the opportunity to travel and learn new things, but you’re still contributing to the communities that you’re visiting while building meaningful connections."
Barclay found herself constantly improving as she bridged her Western teaching style with Eastern expectations. “I think my favorite thing was that I was challenged in such a dramatic way. I’ve learned so much from being challenged, and Fulbright provided an infrastructure for that growth to happen. When I failed, I was able to learn and grow from it.”
Outside of her Fulbright duties, Barclay was able to live out her childhood dream of exploring a new place. She found avenues to fully immerse herself in the culture by enjoying the cuisine, speaking the Thai language, participating in local traditions, and incorporating Buddhist techniques into her daily life. “The thing I liked most about Fulbright was that I got to experience other cultures. I got to share cultural experiences with my students and the teachers, and I realized that what I liked most was connecting my students to resources that they could use to improve after I was gone in a more sustainable way.”
Reflecting on her Fulbright experience, Barclay realized many of her favorite moments were rooted in skills she developed as a public health major at the University of Louisville. “Public health education and public health theory were actually really helpful in becoming a teacher because they taught me how to break things down, make concepts accessible, and meet people where they are. That is really the foundation of teaching in another country. I actually think that public health was much more helpful in teaching than I thought it would be.”
Even though she was not speaking Spanish in Thailand, Barclay felt prepared to take on the challenges of living in a new country due to the expansive lessons she learned as a Spanish major. She explains that any language, linguistic, or culture-based class teaches students to be open-minded and how to effectively communicate with people who have different backgrounds than your own. This cultural humility makes an impact when you are an American teaching English abroad.
For UofL students considering their next steps, Barclay recommends connecting with campus leaders, like the career coaches at the University Career Center. “I would definitely reach out to the Career Center because that’s their entire job, and the resources and help they provide are amazing.” She also advises students applying to the Fulbright Program to start early, research each country’s requirements, and be flexible throughout the process.
While she has traveled the world, Barclay says she will forever hold a special place in her heart for the Cardinal community at the University of Louisville. “I miss it a lot.” Although her Fulbright experience in Thailand has concluded, the lessons and connections she gained continue to shape her path. Barclay has returned to Oviedo, Spain, where she works part-time in tourism and part-time in a creative role promoting a Gitana sewing cooperative that empowers autonomy and inclusion for Gitana women. Visit Barclay’s blog to learn more about her experiences living, working, and traveling abroad.
The fine work of supporting and growing the Fulbright Scholars program at the University of Louisville is provided by the team in the Honors College (honors@louisville.edu). To learn more about them, their services, and additional scholarship opportunities, you can visit their National and International Scholarship Office's website.
Interested in meeting students whose journeys are taking them around the world? Or know a Cardinal whose story deserves to be shared? Connect with the University Career Center (ulcareer@louisville.edu) to learn how to engage with UofL talent or to recommend a student or employer for a future feature. We look forward to hearing from you.
Want to read more about the University Career Center? Check out our UCC Stories page for more career success stories just like this one.