Cindy Schaarschmidt, Executive Director of International Education at Pierce College, has been awarded the Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Award to Taiwan for the 2026–2027 academic year. This highly competitive award recognizes leaders in international education and provides opportunities to strengthen global partnerships and advance cross-cultural understanding.
Schaarschmidt’s selection marks a significant personal and professional milestone. Over 20 years ago, she began her career in international education as a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) in the United States as a German citizen. Today, she returns to the Fulbright Program as a United States. citizen, continuing a journey that has profoundly shaped her life and career.
“Fulbright has been transformative for me — from meeting my husband during my first Fulbright experience to building lifelong friendships and advising students and faculty on Fulbright opportunities,” said Schaarschmidt. “I’m honored to represent Pierce College and excited to deepen connections and explore new partnerships in Taiwan.”
The IEA Award to Taiwan provides higher education administrators with a unique opportunity to engage with their counterparts abroad, learn about Taiwan’s education system, and develop strategies for institutional partnerships. Schaarschmidt’s participation will help strengthen Pierce College’s global engagement and create new opportunities for students and faculty.
Schaarschmidt aims to build workforce-focused partnerships with Taiwanese higher education institutions that align with Pierce College’s priorities in career-connected learning and global engagement, develop study abroad opportunities for Pierce College students, and foster virtual collaborations (COIL) to create lasting academic and cultural connections between Pierce College and institutions in Taiwan.
This achievement comes as Pierce College celebrates additional Fulbright successes: Emergency Management faculty members Sarah Miller and Gus Reina were recently added to the Fulbright Specialist Roster, positioning them to share their expertise globally through short-term projects that strengthen institutional capacity and foster international collaboration.
Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more 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. Nearly 450,000 individuals have participated in Fulbright exchanges, including heads of state, Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and leaders across sectors. Fulbright alumni have earned 63 Nobel Prizes, 98 Pulitzer Prizes, and 83 MacArthur Fellowships, among other honors. The Fulbright Program is funded by an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, and it is managed, coordinated, and overseen by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org.