Florida State University graduate Amelia Rivers is teaching English and building intercultural connections in Rionegro, Colombia, as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, according to an April 3 announcement.
The Fulbright Program aims to foster mutual understanding between U.S. citizens and people around the world by placing recipients in classrooms abroad. Rivers said, “Fulbright is an opportunity giver. Now that Fulbright has happened, the doors have opened.”
Rivers earned her master’s degree in musicology from FSU’s College of Music in 2025 and began teaching at Universidad Católica de Oriente through the ETA program last summer. She described her experience as more than just a teaching assignment: “I love meeting new people, knowing their stories and sharing my story. The ETA is all about that exchange.” Her upbringing involved extensive travel with her family, which she credits for preparing her for global experiences: “I was able to have those conversations about cultural exchange at a very young age,” she said.
Her background includes performing internationally with choirs and researching Colombian folk music for her thesis. At FSU, she participated in World Music Ensemble programs and studied joropo—a folkloric dance genre—bringing her to Bogotá for research. Rivers’ grandfather also participated in the Fulbright program decades ago.
In Colombia, Rivers hosts presentations and activities focused on language learning through music. She plays piano and sings with students using American rock songs as part of their English lessons: “We’re playing mostly American rock music because they want to practice their English, and I’m their English teacher,” she said.
Rivers has joined local choirs such as Coro PolifĂłnico at UCO and Polimnia, performing across MedellĂn and Bogotá. She also works with Huracán de Sueños foundation helping children with music programs and homework support: “Music is the way that I interact with others in Colombia, because everybody loves music here,” she said.
Looking ahead after her Fulbright experience ends, Rivers remains open-minded about future opportunities but feels content where she is now: “I feel like I have my dream job in my dream location,” she said.
