Fulbright Finland Foundation Pre-Departure Orientation Day 2026

Helsinki

The Fulbright Finland Foundation organizes annually a Pre-Departure Orientation Day for all the grantees departing to the U.S. in the next academic year. This year, the event will be organized in Helsinki on May 12.

This seminar is part of the orientation training that includes, in addition to this in-person seminar, virtual meetings and independent studying.

Tentative program

8:30 Morning coffee

09:00 Welcome and Practicalities of the Day 
Emmi Jelekäinen, Program Manager, Fulbright Finland Foundation

09:05 Welcome, Opening Remarks and Grantee Introductions
Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland Foundation 
Emmi Jelekäinen, Program Manager, Fulbright Finland Foundation

9:55 Break

10:05 Together Shaping the Future: Fulbright Finland Foundation and its Worldwide Network
Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland Foundation 

11:05 Break

11:20 Building Bridges and Communicating Across Cultures 
Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland Foundation 
Maija Kettunen, Communications Manager, Fulbright Finland Foundation 
Keith Brown, Professor, Arizona State University; Fulbright Bicentennial Chair in North American Studies at the University of Helsinki 2025-26
Nuutti Tervo, Assistant Professor, University of Oulu; Fulbright Finland Foundation and Nokia Foundation Fellowship for Junior Scholars 2025-26
Fred Markowitz, Professor, Northern Illinois University; Core Fulbright U.S. Scholar 2021-22

12:10 Lunch

13:00 Greetings from the U.S. Embassy

Meet Your U.S. Embassy Visa Officer – Q & A (Module 3)

  • Questions after the program-specific online meeting and reading the U.S. Embassy website?
  • What happens at the border and why does it matter?
  • 2-year requirement and waiver
  • Spouse employment possibilities
  • Visa processing time
  • Booking visa interviews

13:30 Coffee break

13:45 Group Discussion with Fulbright Finland Alumni 

  • Tips for preparing for your stay in the U.S. 
  • First things to do when arriving in the U.S. 
  • House hunt and housing tips, the importance of reading the small print! 
  • Life on a U.S. campus and host organization matters 
  • Living in the U.S.  - everyday issues (banking, health care, transportation, phone, bureaucracy, social life) 
  • Questions on U.S. culture 
  • Enrichment activities 
  • Bringing family to the U.S. 
  • Conducting studies/project in the U.S.  

Group 1: Undergraduate Students (Fulbright Finland Undergraduate Program)
Aaro Ahonen, Fulbright Finland Undergraduate Program 2025-26
Miina Aaltonen, Fulbright Finland Undergraduate Program 2023-24
Eeva Ferrer Sarría, Fulbright Finland Undergraduate Program 2024-25
Mia Filardi, Fulbright-Tampere University Graduate Award 2023-24

Facilitator:
Heidi Tiainen, Program and Events Specialist, Fulbright Finland Foundation

Group 2: Graduate Students (ASLA-Fulbright Pre-Doctoral Research Fellows, ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grants, Fulbright-KAUTE Foundation Awards, and Fulbright-Idman Grants)
Henrik Ilvesmäki, ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant 2018-19
Pauliina Puranen, ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant 2023-24
Johanna Rahnasto, ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant 2022-23
Johan Wahlsten, ASLA-Fulbright Pre-Doctoral Research Fellows 2024-25

Facilitator: 
Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager, Fulbright Finland Foundation 

Group 3: FLTAs
Natalie Gwin-Lewis, Fulbright Finnish Language and Culture Teaching Assistant 2024-25

Facilitator: 
Elisa Repo, Fulbright Finnish Language and Culture Teaching Assistant 2014-15

Group 4: Lecturers, Researchers, and Professionals (ASLA-Fulbright Research Grants for Senior Scholars, ASLA-Fulbright Research Grants for Junior Scholars, and ASLA-Fulbright Mid-Career Professional Development Grants)
Aila Ahonen, Principal Lecturer, JAMK University of Applied Sciences; ASLA-Fulbright Mid-Career Professional Development Award 2018-19
Eeva Kuikka, Postdoctoral Researcher; ASLA-Fulbright Research Grant for a Junior Scholar 2025-26
Nuutti Tervo, Assistant Professor, University of Oulu; Fulbright Finland Foundation and Nokia Foundation Fellowship for Junior Scholars 2025-26
Pirita Tolvanen, Independent Illustrator; ASLA-Fulbright Mid-Career Professional Development Award 2021-22

Facilitator:
Emmi Jelekäinen, Program Manager, Fulbright Finland Foundation

Group 5: Teachers (Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching)
Jouni Kupiainen, Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching, 2025-26
Sanna Leinonen, Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching, 2017-2018
Taru Pohtola, Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching, 2015-16

Facilitator:
Mirka McIntire, Manager, Teacher Exchange and Education Programs, Fulbright Finland Foundation

Group 6: Travel Grantees (Fulbright Finland Travel Grants for Research Collaboration and Fulbright Finland Travel Grants for Institutional Partnership Building)
Laura Cachón Alonso, Doctoral Researcher, University of Helsinki; Fulbright Finland Travel Grant for Research Collaboration 2025
Adam Kositsky, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Eastern Finland; Fulbright Finland Travel Grant for Research Collaboration 2025
Tobias Tamelander, Specialist, University of Helsinki; Fulbright Finland Travel Grant for Institutional Partnerhsip Building 2025

Facilitator:
Mihkel Vaim, Program and Digital Services Specialist, Fulbright Finland Foundation

15:00 Break

15:15 Bus to the Awards Ceremony Venue

15:40 Group Photo

16:00 Fulbright Finland Foundation Grantees as Ambassadors of Finland and Promoters of Our Country Brand

  • Finland’s country brand
  • As citizen diplomats, what can the Fulbright Finland Foundation grantees do to promote Finland’s country brand?
  • How can the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Finnish diplomatic missions in the U.S. be of assistance to and work with the Fulbright Finland Foundation grantees?

16:25 Rehearsal

17:00 Awards Ceremony & Reception

19:00 Event Ends