Sir David Eastwood

Chair

Professor Sir David Eastwood took up his post as UK chair from September 2023. His notable career in higher education has included over twelve years as Vice Chancellor at the University of Birmingham, a term as Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, and chairing bodies as diverse as the Universities Superannuation Scheme, The Russell Group, Universitas 21, and the University and Colleges Admissions Service. He was knighted in 2014 for services to education and appointed as Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands in 2012, carving a place for himself as one of Birmingham’s adopted sons. With an academic specialism in 18th-19th Century history, and an academic career that saw him as Fellow and Senior Tutor at Pembroke College, Oxford, he’s well placed to understand the Commission’s unique role and value in maintaining the ‘special relationship’ between our two countries.

Cheryl Boucher

Chief Risk Officer of Banking and International Risk, Citi

Cheryl Boucher joined Citi in August 2021 and is the Chief Risk Officer of Banking and International Risk. She leads a global team responsible for institutional lending and counterparty credit risk management, working closely with Investment, Corporate, Commercial Banking, Markets, Transaction Services, as well as Legal Entities and Legacy Franchises globally. Cheryl reports to the Citi Chief Risk Officer and is a member of the Risk Management Executive Council, bringing 30 years of experience in banking and risk management roles gained while working in London, Hong Kong and New York.

Prior to joining Citi, Cheryl was the Global Wholesale Credit Head at Bank of America, leading a team responsible for delivering end to end credit solutions for clients across the global wholesale business. She also served as the Global Banking & Markets Risk Management Executive at Bank of America, and as the Chief Risk Officer and Credit Risk Management Executive for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). In these roles Cheryl was responsible for the oversight and integration of multiple risk disciplines.

Mukul Devichand

Editor of Audio Programing for The New York Times

Mukul Devichand is the Editor of Audio Programing for The New York Times, a new role at the frontier of digital audio, created in 2021 and based in New York. Previously, Mukul was at the BBC for 17 years, based in London. He became an editor after a long background in international, investigative and longform reporting for radio and TV. As Editor, he was known for innovative forms of digital publishing and launched and ran a number of journalism units for BBC News and the BBC World Service, including the 24/7 BBC Interactive News, BBC Trending (the BBC “bureau on the global internet”) and the solutions journalism unit People Fixing The World. From 2017, he was the BBC’s first Executive Editor of Voice + AI, building up a large team across production, software engineering and design, and taking the values of public broadcasting into the new space of AI Assistants. 

Mukul grew up in South Wales and his life changed after he first lived in New York City as a Fulbright Scholar studying journalism at Columbia University. He’s passionate about how both journalism and educational exchange can bring the world together and enrich both individual lives and our shared global culture and understanding.

Alan Mackay

Deputy Vice-Principal International, University of Edinburgh

Alan provides strategic leadership on internationalisation and works with senior leaders to advance the University’s international ambition and partnership. He directs the University’s international operation and has over twenty-five years’ experience in international higher education. He has an undergraduate degree in Public Policy and Management, Postgraduate Diploma in European Policy and Law and is an alumnus of Harvard University Graduate School of Education, Institute for Educational Management. He is a Trustee of the Council for At Risk Academics and member of the British Council Scotland Advisory Committee.

Professor Reverend Keith Magee

Chair and Professor of Practice in Social Justice

Professor Reverend Keith Magee is Chair and Professor of Practice in Social Justice at Newcastle University and Senior Fellow in Culture and Politics at UCL Culture and Centre on U.S. Politics. A public intellectual, theologian, and social justice scholar, Reverend Magee served as the founding director of the National Public Housing Museum in Chicago and was senior director of the Museum of African American History in Boston. He has expertise as a bipartisan faith, race and policy advisor with U.S. presidents, governors and congressional members. His eclectic studies have taken him through the halls of Ohio University, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard Divinity School, and Grace International College.   

Currently, he serves as Co-Chair of the Endowment Committee of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Co-Chair of Black Britain and Beyond, and Trustee of Facing History and Ourselves. In 2021 the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan appointed him to the Commission on Diversity in the Public Realm. Reverend Magee is a CNN and BBC contributor and the author of Prophetic Justice: Race, Religion and Politics (2021).

Carla Matero

Founder & CEO of Honor Bound LLC

Carla Matero is Founder & CEO of Honor Bound LLC, a premier strategic advisory firm that pioneers tailored, progressive growth strategies for a diverse set of clients fostering equity and excellence in leadership, team development, and infrastructure design. 

Her work has focused on creating collaborative efforts across sectors for transformative and innovative outcomes in the arts, academia, private corporations, social justice campaigns, nonprofits, and the government. She has held senior leadership positions at Columbia University, Girl Scouts of the USA (HQ), City of New York, and government relations firm Kasirer. 

At Columbia, Carla played an instrumental role in launching its global centers, building an international series of fora to explore the inherent mandates of free press and speech, and collaborating on a $5 billion development campaign. As Executive Director of New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Special Projects and Community Events, she created initiatives that built sustainable partnerships and community engagement. Carla was a 2021 City & State Honoree - “The leaders who made New York”. 

Carla serves on the board of LearningSpring School and was also a founding board member for Article 19 U.S. She holds an MS in Strategic Communications from Columbia University and an MFA from Penn State University.

Paul O’Neill

Senior Advisor to the President and Chief Operating Officer for the Office of Advancement at Georgetown University

Paul O’Neill is the former Senior Advisor to the President and Chief Operating Officer for the Office of Advancement at Georgetown University. As senior advisor, Paul was the lead development officer for the University’s largest-ever gift of $100 million. As Chief Operating Officer, Paul led operations of the “For Generations to Come” campaign that raised $1.5 billion. 

Paul began his career working for Ronald Reagan in the White House Office of Presidential Advance. He then worked in the private sector at The Advisory Board Company and Corporate Executive Board (CEB) in Washington, DC as a member of the management team that led CEB through an IPO and years of extraordinary growth. Later, Paul was managing director on the publishing staff of The Atlantic magazine.  

Paul received a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Policy from Georgetown. He is co-author of Georgetown University (Arcadia Press), a collection of historical documents and photographs from the university’s first 200 years.

Susan Sternglass Noble

Non-Executive Director and Angel Investor

Susan Sternglass Noble is recognised as a leading global investor in financial services companies having held senior roles at Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, CQS and AXA Framlington. Susan has served as Commissioner on the Dormant Assets Commission and as adviser to the Treasury Select Committee of the House of Commons.

Susan is currently a Non-Executive Director of Unity Trust Bank and Invesco Asia Dragon Trust plc and an advisor to the Investor Forum. She served on the board of Avanza AB, one of the first European internet stockbrokers and is an active angel investor.

Susan holds a B.A. in Asian Studies from Cornell University and a M.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. Her study-abroad in Taiwan as an undergraduate was a formative experience and drives her passion for global educational exchange.

Dr Faye Taylor

Deputy Director for International Strategy & Partnerships, Department for Education

Faye Taylor is Deputy Director for International Strategy & Partnerships at the Department for Education, responsible for the UK’s diplomatic education relationships, including the Fulbright Scholarships grant.

Faye knows first-hand how transformational scholarships can be, holding an MA and PhD in History from the University if Nottingham and a Masters in Public Policy from the London School of Economics thanks to generous sponsorship.

Before joining the UK Government, Faye worked in higher education advocacy, scholarships and international relations for the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and in research policy and collaborative doctoral training at University Alliance. As an early career academic she taught medieval history at King’s College London and held the King George VI Postdoctoral Fellowship at Cumberland Lodge.

Faye and her family are based in London but enjoying showing their toddler the world.

Rowena Boddington

Executive Director

Rowena is the Executive Director of the US-UK Fulbright Commission and provides strategic and operational leadership of the Commission and its programmes and activities. She works closely in partnership with the Board of Commissioners, partner governments and universities, alumni, funders and other stakeholders to ensure that Fulbright continues to be an outstanding transatlantic higher education programme facilitating educational and cultural exchange between the US and UK.

Before becoming the Executive Director, Rowena worked across the EducationUSA and Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme at the Commission for eight years, helping thousands of UK students explore study in the USA.

While an American studies student at a British university, Rowena had the opportunity to study abroad in California. This life-changing experience shaped and changed her perspective and she is passionate about helping more students have as transformational experiences studying in the US or UK as her own was. 

Jo Downey

Chief Operating Officer

In December 2025, Jo became Chief Operating Officer at the US-UK Fulbright Commission providing operational leadership across the organisation and ensuring that strategic priorities are translated into effective systems, processes and practices. In this role, she oversees compliance, risk, HR, legal, IT and governance.

Jo joined the Commission in 2017 and previously held the roles of Director of Operations and HR and Administration Manager.  She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resources Management and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPD).

Jo has worked in UK higher education, the private sector and overseas, and is passionate about supporting an organisation dedicated to providing global educational opportunities.

In her spare time, Jo enjoys travelling, photography and cooking.

Afua Osei

Director of External Relations

As Director of External Relations for the US-UK Fulbright Commission, Afua Osei drives strategic communications, and partners with colleagues on external engagement.

She has worked in external relations across global higher education institutions. These include Cambridge (initiating executive education business in African markets and Brazil), Oxford (promoting an entrepreneurial culture in the Thames Valley region and Europe), Royal Holloway, (research management and intellectual property commercialisation) and Harvard (technology patenting and licensing). Most recently, as Associate Director of Alumni and Events, she led engagement with Warwick alumni through a talented team and a newly established overseas network of ambassadors, building an alumni marketing and communications agenda.

While representing the University of Oxford, Afua was quoted in The Times, The Financial Times, and New Scientist. Accordingly, she started her career working for a national newspaper, The Independent. Afua is an associate member of CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations), and she has an intellectual property law master’s degree from Queen Mary combined with a bachelor’s in biochemistry from Imperial College, London.

Cristina Picillo

Interim Director of Advising

Cristina leads the EducationUSA advising service, offering accurate, free and comprehensive information to students, advisors and families in the UK about US study, as part of the State Department's EducationUSA network. Her team also supports US HEIs interested in recruiting in the UK.

Cristina is also the Programme Director for the Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme, delivered by the Commission and run in partnership with social mobility charity the Sutton Trust. Working with 150 students a year, the team help low income, generally first-generation students explore US universities and apply to universities to gain admission and funding.

Cristina studied French and Spanish at the University of Leeds, spending time abroad, studying in Spain and teaching students in Western France. She has volunteered and worked with the British and Spanish Red Cross and Refugee Council, working with children, young people and refugees. Prior to her current role, Cristina was a Senior Programme Manager for the Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme.

Having benefited greatly from her own experiences, she is passionate about promoting the transformative experience of educational and cultural exchange in higher education.

Lisa Sadler

Director, Fulbright Awards Programme

Lisa joined the Fulbright Commission in March 2022 and was initially the US Programme Manager. After providing maternity cover for the Director role and stepping into the newly created Head of Special Projects for four months, Lisa returned to the Director role from January 2024. This includes managing the Awards team and the relationships with UK award sponsors and partners.   

Lisa has a bachelors degree in English from Leeds and a Masters in Social Anthropology from SOAS. Before joining the Commission, Lisa spent five years teaching English at university level and lived in Mexico for three years. She also has over 20 years experience working in international recruitment for UK Universities.  

In her spare time, Lisa enjoys spending time walking her dogs and continuing to improve her very poor Spanish! 

Katharina Becker

Senior Programme Manager, Summer Institute Programme

Katharina manages all aspects of the Summer Institutes Programmes for undergraduate students. Having participated in a Fulbright Summer Institute herself during her time at university, she is excited to share this fantastic experience.

She is a firm believer in the transformative powers of educational exchange. In positions with organizations such as the German-American Fulbright Commission, the German Historical Institute London and the German Research Foundation she has been providing networking opportunities to students and researchers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Katharina is passionate about coffee, yoga and theatre. She enjoys spending her free time in London’s beautiful parks, chasing after her two sons.

Rebecca Gibbons

Programme Assistant, Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme

Becca is a Programme Assistant for the Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme.

Previously a participant on the programme, Becca went on to attain a B.S. in Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology and Spanish from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. During her studies, she became closely involved in education equity and college access work with US-based non-profits, as well as promoting social justice in healthcare through clinical research work in predominantly marginalised and low-resourced groups.

Passionate about language learning and cultural exchange, Becca previously worked as an English as a Foreign Language Teacher in Madrid, Spain, where she also studied abroad during her undergraduate years.

She is excited to use her experiences in international education to support the next generation of students to explore and access higher education abroad. In her spare time, Becca enjoys reading, travelling, and banana bread.

Dave Harper

Programme Manager, US Scholars

Dave manages all aspects of the awards programmes for US Scholars. He is there to support and be a contact for US Scholars, Distinguished Teachers, Global Scholars, and Fulbright Specialists coming to the UK to research and/or lecture in the United Kingdom.  

Originally from the United States (Maine), Dave now makes his home in the medieval city of York. During over thirty years of military service, Dave lived in various U.S. states as well as abroad in the Republic of Korea and Philippines. He is a scholar of Early Modern and Restoration English Literature whose recent book, Paradise Lost and the Making of English Literary Criticism, explores the reception of Milton’s epic. Dave completed his Ph.D. in English Literature at the University of Texas, Austin and served as the Head of the Department of English & Philosophy at West Point for eight years. In the U.K., he has taught undergraduate and graduate modules in literature, book history, and creative industries. In his role as Programme Manager, Dave is excited to combine his passion for higher education with his deep belief that our most challenging problems may be solved through education combined with international understanding and collaboration. 

Outside of work, Dave is an avid book collector and a letterpress printer. He particularly enjoys walks in the Yorkshire Dales. 

Rebecca Jackson-Walley

Programme Manager, Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme

Rebecca is a Programme Manager for the Sutton Trust US Programme, supporting low-income and first-generation students to explore and apply to US universities.

As a British/American, Rebecca grew up travelling back and forth between Aberystwyth, Wales, and Boston, MA, which sparked her passion for travel and transatlantic relations. After participating in an exchange program to Japan, Rebecca grew to strongly believe that opportunities to experience different cultures and societies encourages peace and understanding. Rebecca studied Politics at Queen Mary University London, and has experience working in government administration, issue-based campaigning, and within the non-profit sector. Prior to her current role, Rebecca was a Programme Officer for the UK Fulbright Awards team, supporting British Scholars, and British Students pursuing postgraduate study in the US.

Outside of work, Rebecca loves travelling, photography, reading, and is currently learning to DJ! 

Laura Logan

Programme Manager, Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme

Laura is a Programme Manager for the Sutton Trust US Programme, supporting low-income and first-generation students to explore and apply to US universities.

Laura joined the Fulbright team in 2023 as a Programme Assistant for the Awards Team. 

She hails from the small but bustling town of Port Antonio on Jamaica’s north-east coast. Her introduction to international education came with a scholarship to the United World College in Wales where she became actively involved with equality, diversity and inclusion work on campus. Matriculating to Dartmouth College in the USA, she majored in Geography and African and African American Studies and continued to work in the EDI space by creating supportive systems for international, Black and Caribbean students. She also studied for ten weeks in Accra, and still dreams about Ghanaian food.  

Laura loves to write and bake and is teaching herself how to sew. 

Jessica McIvor

Head of Special Projects

As Head of Special Projects, Jessica manages a variety of different projects within the Commission including the virtual exchange Global Challenges Teaching Awards, the UK University Membership programme and relations with UK university partners, and UK outreach through the Fulbright Champions programme.

Originally from Belfast, she studied modern languages and European studies at the University of Southampton and spent time abroad studying in Barcelona, Spain and in Nanjing, China, as well as working in Germany. Before joining the Commission, she completed her PhD co-funded by the University of Southampton and the University of Bristol on gender, war, and photography in Ireland and Spain. In her role as Head of Special Projects, she is excited to bring together her passion for cultural exchange and experience in higher education to help to facilitate inter-cultural exchange for others and drive innovative approaches to international education.

Outside of work, Jessica enjoys bouldering and she is looking forward to exploring London’s museums and galleries.

Roisin Murphy

Senior Programme Manager, Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme

Roisin is London-Irish and was raised in Harrow, a greater London hub of multiculturalism. She is excited to bring insights from working in Early Careers, as well as her own experience as a first generation university attendee, to support young people to undertake the Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme.

She completed a BA in History at the University of Bristol, which included a dissertation on Game of Thrones and a research position covering the impact of the BBC’s Natural History Unit.

She loves reading, especially historical fiction, and is currently working to perfect her curly hair routine.

Ellis O’Connell

Programme Assistant, Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme

Originally from the sunny Isle of Wight, Ellis made the big move to London at 19 for university. During his time there, he was able to undertake a study abroad year to Los Angeles. This life-changing experience ignited a passion for international education and social mobility. Having spent the last three years working in the music industry, he decided to make a career shift into international education, hoping to truly make a difference to people's lives. Having previously intended to complete his higher education in the US – and having introduced his own high school to the Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme – it is a full-circle moment for him to join the Commission as a Programme Assistant years later!

Outside of work, he enjoys travelling (having visited 27 countries and 19 US states), seeing live music, watching reality television competition programmes, eating good food and experiencing culture.

Louissa Osorio-Denney

EducationUSA Manager

Louissa is the EducationUSA Manager at the US-UK Fulbright Commission, advising students and their families on higher education opportunities in the US and managing a programme of events, including USA College Day London.

Having completed an undergraduate and master’s degree in music, she pursued a career shift into education and completed a PGCE in MFL. Louissa spent three years working as a teacher and then Head of Department where she enjoyed working with young people to inspire a curiosity for language, culture and travel. Louissa then moved to the charity sector as an Education Programme Manager in an organisation with social mobility and global friendship at its core. This further fuelled her passion for cultural exchange and equal opportunity.

Louissa is excited to get stuck in with her role, combining her knowledge and background to provide a great service as part of the State Department’s EducationUSA network.

In her free time, Louissa enjoys attending music events that bring her close to her Latin American roots, cooking and walking her dog, Otto!

Junaina Pirbhai

Senior Wellbeing and Welfare Manager

Junaina manages wellbeing and welfare, being a point of contact for Fulbrighters requiring wellbeing support and providing appropriate training for staff. She is also responsible for the development of the Commission’s safeguarding policies and processes in line with best practice.

Junaina completed part of her education in Ontario, Canada. She has a BSc. in Psychology from the University of Warwick and has been working in pastoral support in education for many years. Junaina is currently doing her Master's in Integrative Counselling and Coaching. She is passionate about breaking down barriers that individuals and communities may face due to mental health, and increasing awareness around positive wellbeing strategies to improve overall life satisfaction.

In her spare time, Junaina enjoys reading novels, swimming and hiking.  

Lily Prendergast

Senior Programme Manager, Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme

Lily is a Senior Programme Manager for the Sutton Trust US Programme, assisting low-income and first-generation British students explore and apply to US universities.

Previously a participant on the programme, Lily subsequently attained a BA in Anthropology and South Asian Studies from Smith College in Massachusetts. As part of her degree, Lily spent 6 months studying in Pune, India, as well as interning for non-profits championing social mobility through public health, and inclusion and empowerment of LGBTQ community members.

She is eager to combine her first-hand knowledge as a first-generation college student with her experiences working on campus and abroad to encourage students to access resources and get involved in higher education!

Lily enjoys reading, seeing live music, and maple syrup.

Shereen Rajasooriar

Finance Officer

Shereen joined Fulbright in December 2024 where she works as a Finance Officer, responsible for managing the day-to-day accounting activities that support the Commission’s operations.

Her entire career has been in finance, with much of it spent working in government departments focused on foreign aid and international development. She is a qualified member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and also holds a CIPD Foundation Certificate in Personnel Practice.

Originally from Sri Lanka, she moved to the UK as a teenager, where she met her husband and has since made a home here. In her spare time, she enjoys floristry and long walks, and is particularly proud of having climbed Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Great Britain.

Olwyn Shorey

Programme Manager, US Postgraduates

Olwyn Shorey is the US Postgraduate Programme Manager at the US-UK Fulbright Commission. As a manager she is there to support and be a contact for US Postgraduate grantees studying in the UK and manage all the different aspects of the Fulbright Awards for Postgraduate programmes.

Olwyn considers herself both from Guernsey (a small island between England and France) and London, having lived half of her life in both places. Previously, she has worked coordinating Study Abroad programmes and pastoral care for American students studying abroad in London from across the US and has experience in library/ family history research services alongside tutoring English, German and Portuguese.

Olwyn understands the importance of cross-cultural and academic exchange having lived, studied, and worked abroad in Lisbon and Mainz during her German and Portuguese degree at Kings College London. This has motivated her to focus her career around facilitating diverse groups of students to access and enjoy the same exciting opportunities. Outside of work, Olwyn loves finding live music spots in London, going on long walks, cooking and doing street dance classes.

Abby Sorlie

Programme Officer

Abby is a Programme Officer for the UK Awards Team.

Her experience with international education began at age 16 when she lived in Switzerland for a year as an exchange student. Originally from Oregon, Abby subsequently stayed in the Pacific Northwest for her undergraduate degree, attending Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington (Go Zags). International experience was an integral part of her life during and after university having completed study abroad programs in Austria, France, and Belgium, and subsequently serving in roles in the German Parliament in Berlin, and participating in a Fulbright program herself as an English Teaching Assistant in Austria. Abby moved to London to complete her master’s degree at the London School of Economics and is very excited to get to promote opportunities for international study and exchange through Fulbright and the Commission.

In her free time, Abby enjoys baking, swimming, sewing, eating pasta, and visiting London’s large range of history museums.

Sam Thompson

Senior Programme Manager, UK Awards

Sam manages all aspects of the UK Awards programme for British citizens, including the selection process, pre-departure support and orientation, and the organisation of three programme-related enrichment events for UK grantees.

He started his time at the US-UK Fulbright Commission working on the Sutton Trust US Programme, a cause he felt passionate about after his own experience on a Sutton Trust UK Summer School. Before working at Fulbright, Sam studied for his BA at the University of Cambridge and his MLitt in Scandinavian Studies at the University of Aberdeen. 

Outside of work Sam is interested in languages, music and game design.

Sophie Wall

Administrative Co-ordinator

Sophie is our administrative co-ordinator. Sophie is half Welsh and half Georgian and grew up in a multicultural home.

Sophie has spent time studying abroad in Kazakhstan, the UAE and the Netherlands and understands and values the importance of an international education. Despite COVID disruptions, Sophie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Amsterdam in 2021.

In her free time, Sophie enjoys going on long walks, listening to music books and podcasts, and watching and discussing films.

Evan Whetsell

CRM Co-ordinator

Evan has joined the Fulbright team in 2024 as a CRM Co-Ordinator. He works closely with the Awards team to ensure the smooth running of their programmes.

Originally from Maryland, Evan has lived up and down the East Cost of the United States, attending Northeastern University in Boston. He then took a leap to study at Queen’s University in Belfast and landed at his final stop in London, where he and his partner are currently raising their toddler.

Evan is delighted to be joining the passionate team at Fulbright and is looking forward to supporting the whole team.

Evan is a very amateur triathlete and enjoys convincing people to join him in any of the three disciplines.