A 2026 Luther College graduate with deep family ties to the Czech Republic is headed back overseas after receiving a Fulbright award for the coming academic year.
Sophia Chadima of Swisher, Iowa, was selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and will work as an English teaching assistant in the Czech Republic during the 2026-27 academic year, according to Luther College News. Chadima graduated from Luther with a major in environmental policy and a minor in Spanish.
Her assignment is connected to both her academic interests and her family history. Chadima said her father’s family is entirely Czech, and that holidays at her grandparents’ home included making kolaches and rohlíky, traditional Czech pastries and breads.
A family connection became a reason to return
In 2023, Chadima’s grandmother organized and led a family genealogy tour in the Czech Republic. During that trip, the family visited towns and houses associated with distant ancestors. Chadima said the experience motivated her to apply for the Fulbright program.
“I am excited to return to this beautiful country for a longer period, and to create meaningful connections with both the students and the community.”
She also said the award will give her the opportunity to experience Czech culture and daily life while working with students.
Chadima’s work at Luther
During her time in Decorah, Chadima participated in the Collegiate Chorale for three years and worked for four years at Luther’s Center for Sustainable Communities. She served as a student coordinator for the Move Out Mindfully initiative in May 2024 and May 2025. The program encourages students to donate dorm-room items rather than discard them at the end of the spring semester.
Chadima also worked as a summer student researcher on Luther’s Regenerating Soil and Community project in 2024 and 2025. The interdisciplinary project involved soil sampling, laboratory testing and social-science research, including interviews with women landowners, to share soil and agriculture education.
She credited professors Rachel Brummel, Laura Peterson, Jodi Enos-Berlage and Gwen Strand, along with other students, for their work on the project.
In 2024, Chadima was one of three students who helped create the Luther Bike Council. The group educates students about bike safety and organizes rides around Decorah, connecting her campus involvement to the local community.
Travel shaped her next step
Chadima studied away through three January-term courses and spent a semester in Malta. She said those experiences exposed her to different cultures and perspectives and gave her confidence to apply for the Fulbright English teaching assistant program.
“Traveling through Luther opened my eyes to different cultures and worldviews. It also helped inspire me and gave me the confidence to apply for the Fulbright ETA program.”
Nearly 2,000 recent college graduates, graduate students and early-career professionals nationwide receive Fulbright awards to teach and study abroad each year, the college reported.
After completing her year in the Czech Republic, Chadima plans to pursue a master’s degree in environmental studies, soil science or environmental policy.