Pauley Receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award for 2026-27

Simpson College Professor of Philosophy John Pauley has earned a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award for teaching/research/public philosophy at the University of Galway in the 2026-27 academic year. Presented by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, the prestigious honor provides Pauley with the opportunity to teach undergraduate and graduate level seminars in philosophy, participate in the University of Galway public philosophy projects, and do environmental research.

“I am grateful to the Irish Fulbright Commission, the faculty in philosophy at the University of Galway, Dean Harrigan, Mark Green (Simpson Fulbright Liason), colleagues Aswati Subramanian, Jeremy Griffin, Jed Forman, Bradi Darrah, and Spencer Waugh,” said Pauley. “We don’t receive this sort of honor and opportunity without great colleagues. I am also grateful to many outstanding students that I have had the privilege to teach over these many years.”

Pauley joined the Simpson faculty in 1990 and has been recognized multiple times with distinguished teaching and research honors by the College. Pauley currently serves as the director of interdisciplinary studies, director of social justice studies, and has had many leadership positions over the years.

Recognition as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar places Pauley in an elite group of accomplished faculty, researchers, administrators and professionals who teach or conduct research in partnership with institutions around the world. Through these affiliations, they expand their networks and often seed future research, innovation and institutional partnerships.

“This award is a great honor for Professor Pauley and, by extension, for Simpson,” said CoryAnne Harrigan, academic dean and vice president of Academic Affairs at Simpson.  “John’s project has great potential for advancing collaborative research and intercultural understanding between Simpson and the University of Galway. We look forward to the collegiality his scholarship will facilitate.”

The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 as an investment in global peace and American prosperity through educational and cultural exchange. Fulbright provides opportunities for exceptional Americans and participants from 160 countries to study, teach and conduct research abroad. Fulbright recipients have included 46 heads of state or government, 63 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 83 MacArthur Fellows and countless leaders in all sectors and industries worldwide.