W&L’s James Dixon ’23 Awarded Fulbright to Taiwan

By Emily Innes April 7, 2023

Dixon has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to teach English in Taiwan.

Washington and Lee University senior James Dixon ’23 has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to teach English in Taiwan. At W&L, Dixon is an international politics major with a double minor in data science-business analytics, and classics. Dixon is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and graduated from The Altamont School.

Dixon applied for an ETA in Taiwan to further his understanding of international politics. His experience working with children inspired him to pursue teaching opportunities that would allow him to live and work in a country of geopolitical importance.

“My two summers working at a summer camp, first as a counselor and then as a program director, showed me the joy of working with young people,” Dixon said. “I hope to have an experience that I will remember for a lifetime — one that will make me a more globally-minded citizen and develop my communication, leadership and teaching abilities.”

The ETA program in Taiwan is designed to help improve English language instruction in Taiwan’s elementary schools, junior high schools and universities, as well as strengthen the educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Taiwan. English Teaching Assistants engage not only with their students but with the surrounding community through service-oriented projects.

“It is a tremendous honor to be awarded this grant,” Dixon said. “Serving as a cultural ambassador while also immersing myself into a new culture would be an incredible experience.”

On campus, Dixon is a member of Chi Psi fraternity, a class representative to the Executive Committee, and the executive director of Washington and Lee Student Consulting (WLSC). Dixon joined WLSC his sophomore year and is grateful for the mentorship from the organization’s faculty advisor, Lloyd Tanlu.