Elms College is pleased to welcome Caitlin Harkin as its 2026–2027 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA). The Fulbright Ireland-USA Program places outstanding candidates in fields such as health, science, business, technology, and Irish language at select institutions across the country. Elms is one of only a few colleges in the United States to host an Irish-language FLTA annually, and in 2026–2027, just 19 Fulbright awardees will travel to the U.S.
Since 2010, Elms has hosted an Irish-language FLTA each year in collaboration with the Irish Cultural Center (ICC) of Western New England, creating a distinctive academic and cultural opportunity for Elms College students and the Western Massachusetts community. Through this partnership, Elms students benefit from immersive language study and meaningful cultural exchange that extends far beyond the classroom.
The Fulbright FLTA program has become a valued part of the Elms experience, enriching the college’s international offerings while deepening its longstanding connection to the Irish community of Western Massachusetts. It also reflects Fulbright’s broader mission of strengthening relationships between the United States and Ireland through academic and cultural exchange.
The impact of the program was especially evident this past year, when 2025–2026 FLTA Michaela Burke helped launch the first Gaelic football scrimmage at Elms, introducing students and community members to another important element of Irish culture.
Caitlin Harkin will come to Elms from Derry City, Ireland. After earning her degree and Post-Graduate Certificate from Queen’s University Belfast, she has been teaching Irish Medium Education at both primary and secondary schools for the past four years. In addition to her classroom teaching, Harkin has also led Irish Language classes outside of her school, further sharing her passion for the language and culture.
During her time on campus, Harkin will teach introductory and intermediate-level Irish courses to Elms College students. She will also offer classes to community members through the ICC. In addition to teaching, the FLTA will lead cultural programming and speak on topics related to language, identity, and Irish culture. These events broaden students’ understanding of Ireland’s linguistic and cultural heritage and create opportunities for dialogue across campus and throughout Western Mass.
A signature example of this work is Irish Language Day, held each May at Elms College, which brings dozens of Irish speakers and learners to campus and further enhances the college’s international and cultural programming.
As Elms welcomes Caitlin Harkin for the coming academic year, the college looks forward to another year of language learning, cultural exchange, and community engagement through this valued Fulbright partnership. The Fulbright FLTA program continues to provide Elms students with an academic and cultural experience they would not otherwise have, while reinforcing the college’s partnership with the Irish Cultural Center and its deep ties to the Irish community of Western Massachusetts.