Nathan Ayala, a fourth-year student double majoring in History and Russian Studies, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Kyrgyzstan. The Fulbright Program is a major flagship international exchange initiative of the U.S. government. As an English Teaching Assistant, Nathan will teach English at a Kyrgyz university.
During his four years at UCR, Ayala has been a dedicated member of the campus community. He has traveled with student delegations as part of UCR’s Model UN team to New York and Germany. His experience representing Kyrgyzstan in Germany helped spark his interest in the country. He also led the team to a record-breaking victory in Washington, D.C. In addition, Ayala founded and served as the first president of History Enthusiasts at UCR, the campus’s primary undergraduate organization for students interested in history.
Nathan is currently completing two research projects: one as part of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship and another for his HIST 195 Senior Thesis. His projects focus on Soviet cultural diplomacy in Mexico and the Soviet Peace Movement, respectively, under the mentorship of Professor Kiril Tomoff.
Ayala has presented his research on campus, at Stanford, in Chicago with the American Historical Association, and at UCLA. His interest in Fulbright developed further while he was studying Russian abroad in Tbilisi, Georgia, in summer 2025.
After his time in Kyrgyzstan, Nathan hopes to continue researching Soviet history in graduate school, with particular interest in transportation history, railways, and steam locomotives.
Ayala wishes to express thanks for the support he has received on and off campus throughout this process. He would like to thank: Dr. Sonja Lind from the Study Abroad Office for her constant support; Professors David Biggs and Thomas Cogswell; Dr. Paul D’Anieri of the Political Science Department for helping him prepare for the interview; Dr. Ekatrina Yudina for her excellent guidance in Russian language and culture; and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Covadonga Lamar Prieto. Most notably, he would like to thank Associate Dean and Professor Kiril Tomoff for his guidance. Finally, he thanks the various Fulbright alumni who took the time to speak with him about the application process.
