Feldkirch, Austria (Source: Norbert Kaiser, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT, via Wikimedia Commons)
Fulbright Austria has chosen Mount St. Mary’s University alum Cameron Stiles, C’20, as a United States Teaching Assistant (USTA). He will spend the 2025-26 academic year in Feldkirch, Austria, teaching English and sharing American culture with secondary school students.
“It means a lot [to be selected as a USTA], because I finally have an opportunity to immerse myself in German language. I also plan to get a master's degree in either Germany or Austria, so this will be a nice year to build connections and settle into the culture before applying to any programs over there,” shared Stiles.
As an undergraduate, Stiles double majored in German and international studies. An engaged member of the Mount community, he served as a peer tutor, teaching assistant, Office of Social Justice student leader (the precursor to the Center for Service), and as founder and vice president of the Mount’s Catholic Relief Services chapter.
Stiles fell in love with Austria as an undergraduate, after spending five weeks of the summer of 2018 in Salzburg through the Mount’s study abroad program.
“I decided on Austria, because I studied abroad there, and really fell in love with the landscape and culture. They also speak a unique dialect of German, so it's a good challenge trying to pick it up and 
work on my comprehension skills,” he explained.
After spending several years working as an AmeriCorps volunteer, education program coordinator for the American Boat and Yacht Council, outdoor and adventure specialist for Howard County Recreation, and climbing instructor/supervisor, Stiles reached out to the Mount’s Office of Competitive Fellowships for assistance with his Fulbright Austria application. Always happy to help alumni as well as current students, the Office of Competitive Fellowships offered support and direction on essays and letters of recommendation.
“I received a lot of helpful guidance from Professor of Spanish and Director of the Office of Competitive Fellowships Christine Blackshaw, Ph.D., who was able to give me advice on whom I should go to for letters of recommendation and review drafts of my personal statement and provide suggestions for revisions. I also received help from my former professor, Professor of World Languages Susann Samples, Ph.D., who was able to evaluate my German skills as well as provide the letter of recommendation,” he explained.
To learn more about the Office of Competitive Fellowships, please visit their webpage.