Alumna Named TCU’s First Eisenhower Global Scholar

Claire Astrid Fuchs ’21 made it her mission at Texas Christian University to foster a global perspective. She learned nine languages and engaged in serving, working and studying around the world. This dedication resulted in her being one of only four Americans and the first Horned Frog selected as a 2026 Eisenhower Global Scholar.  

She now heads to the University of Oxford in England to pursue a Master of Public Policy degree at the Blavatnik School of Government.  

Her journey took root in the classrooms and communities she found at TCU. A political science major who double-minored in French and Chinese, Fuchs credits the university’s blend of academics, extracurriculars and faculty support for shaping her global mindset.  

“The opportunities to take electives within your areas of interest for me were super important because that’s what helped me figure out what I was interested in,” Fuchs said. “When I started taking all the foreign policy, foreign relations, Middle East-focused classes and the language classes, that’s when I knew this is what I’m passionate about.” 

Eisenhower Fellowships send four American university graduates abroad annually for intensive postgraduate study and hands-on work experience. Fuchs described a Master of Public Policy as the political science and government policy world’s equivalent of the MBA. 

“I’ll be trying to focus on international relations, national security and defense, particularly related to China, Russia and the Middle East,” Fuchs said.  

Beyond the coursework, the culture of collaboration and encouragement at TCU shaped her path. Faculty and friends offered guidance that helped her balance ambition with perspective.  

“I really liked the faculty and also other student support for all the things that you want to do,” Fuchs said. “Them guiding you and saying, ‘Hey, Claire, maybe you’re doing too much, take some off your plate,’ or ‘Hey, that’s a really good idea. Let’s make it happen.’”  

Grant Ferguson, instructor II in political science and director of outreach and public service internships, recalls the tenacity Fuchs carried into her civic literacy internship.  

“Claire had a terrific desire to learn and was always excited to see how she could use her natural talents to serve others,” Ferguson said. “She was more dedicated to learning new languages than any other student I’ve had. At the beginning of her internship, Claire was encouraged to learn Farsi, and she accepted the challenge.” 

Her drive to explore and connect across cultures was constant. She sought opportunities beyond the classroom, whether arranging travel to Israel or applying for competitive internships. Even a pandemic-altered State Department internship in North Africa did not slow her enthusiasm. 

“Claire has always been about seeking new information both inside and outside the classroom; this latest opportunity is part of a journey she has been on since I have known her,” said Eric Cox, associate professor of political science and director of Model United Nations. “She wants to know more about the world with the ultimate goal of helping others make the world a better place.” 

Language study became more than a skill set for Fuchs. It became her way of seeing the world. She mastered French and Chinese while at TCU and even began Arabic. In total, she knows nine languages, which serve as windows into new perspectives and bridges across cultures.  

“As someone who was raised in a multicultural background, Claire remarkably manifests a keen ability to move across differing ways of thinking and writing,” said Benjamin Hiramatsu Ireland, associate professor of French and director of the Asian Studies program. “Claire, through her language studies ... has opened multiple portals, touching the hearts and minds of those in her path, including my own.” 

Already putting her education to work, Fuchs has served as a research analyst at Janes, a defense intelligence organization, tracking foreign investment through a security lens, and has supported endangered communities through Refugee Services of Texas.  

Oxford, she said, represents the next chapter in a journey that blends policy with empathy, scholarship with service and languages with leadership. 

“I’m really excited for this next chapter,” Fuchs said. “I’m hoping that as the classes begin, I’ll be reflecting on the lessons in some of the topics and subjects that were discussed in TCU classrooms.” 

Learn more about Eisenhower Global Scholars.