The U.S. Embassy in Kingston has selected four exceptional Jamaicans to participate in the Fulbright and Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Programs for the2026-2027 academic year. They are Abishua Johnson, Joelle Janson, Davia Findlotor and Jervian Johnson. These awardees will pursue graduate studies and professional leadership development at premier U.S. institutions, focusing on critical fields including data science, environmental engineering, finance, and natural resources policy.

 “These exceptional awardees represent the very best of Jamaica’s rising generation of leaders, combining technical excellence with a true commitment to public service,” said Erin Mai Jarrett, Public Affairs Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston. “As they pursue advanced studies at U.S. institutions, their vision and drive will directly contribute to Jamaica’s growth and national development. The United States is proud to invest in their talent and support the lasting impact they will bring back to their communities. Their ingenuity, resilience, and dedication to their craft and sphere of influence will undoubtedly shape a brighter future for Jamaica. We are deeply honoured to support their educational journeys and look forward to the transformative impact they will have upon their return.”

This year’s awardees join a distinguished network of Jamaican alumni who continue to drive national development and innovation across the island. They include Minister of Education and Information The Honourable Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, National Librarian Beverly Lashley, and noted academic scholar Dr. Jermaine McCalpin. 

Meet the 2026 Awardees

Abishua Johnson (Fulbright | Data Science and AI | Rice University) A 2025 Valedictorian for the Faculties of Science and Technology and Engineering at The University of the West Indies, Mona, Johnson graduated with First Class Honours and a 4.01 GPA despite having no prior programming experience. His work focuses on building intelligent AI systems for resource-constrained environments. His standout capstone project, eLife, uses custom AI and deepfake detection to securely digitise the proof-of-life verification process for Jamaican pensioners, reducing a weeks-long ordeal to minutes. Further demonstrating his technical range, he developed high-speed motion-tracking algorithms for surgical robotics during research at the University of Leeds. Currently a Technology Consultant on EY Kingston’s AI and Data Taskforce, the first-generation graduate also founded a university tennis club and provided over 120 hours of volunteer French tutoring. He ultimately aims to establish a Jamaican AI research institute dedicated to healthcare, public services, and financial inclusion.

 Davia Findlotor (Fulbright | Finance and Financial Management | Syracuse University) Findlotor is the Class of 2024 Valedictorian of the Caribbean Maritime University, where she earned First Class Honours in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. A highly active student leader, she served as Vice President of the Women in Maritime Association Student Chapter, President of the Tutoring Club, and received the American Caribbean Maritime Foundation Scholarship for her academic and civic excellence. Professionally, Findlotor has worked as an Operations and Financial Support Assistant at Justeese LLC and mentored youth through the Tourism Enhancement Fund’s Summer Internship Program. She also runs a freelance tutoring and coaching business specialising in finance. Through the Fulbright Program, she intends to transition deeper into financial management and investment analysis, with the goal of becoming a finance lecturer and championing national financial literacy initiatives across Jamaica.

Joelle Hanson (Fulbright | Environmental Engineering | University of South Florida) Recognised as the Most Outstanding Chemical Engineering Graduate at the University of Technology, Hanson earned her degree with a 3.61 GPA and a deep commitment to environmental innovation. Her undergraduate research pioneered the development of sustainable, cellulose-based bioplastics derived from banana pseudostems. Prior to the Fulbright program, Hanson served as a Quality Analyst at Pepsi-Cola Jamaica, where she ensured rigorous water quality and operational standards were maintained, building on her past experience as a Research Scientist Intern analysing the ecological health of New York’s Lake George. Beyond her scientific work, Hanson served as a Project Advisor for the Jamaica 4-H St. Catherine Parish Advisory Council and served on Pepsi-Cola Jamaica’s Corporate Affairs and Environmental Committee. She plans to focus her graduate studies on resilient water and wastewater treatment, resource recovery, and global ecological challenges.

Jervian Johnson (Hubert Humphrey Fellow | Natural Resources and Environmental Policy | UC Davis) is an accomplished engineer and entrepreneur. Johnson’s academic accomplishments include First-Class Honours in Chemical Engineering from the University of Technology and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Ajou University in South Korea. Her distinguished career spans both the private and public sectors, including roles as a Process Engineer at Petrojam Limited, an Environmental Engineering Specialist at Jamaica’s National Environment and Planning Agency, and a Jamaica House Fellow at the Office of the Prime Minister. Outside academia, Johnson is the Managing Director of Tropicks365, an award-winning health food brand dedicated to preserving local tropical fruits, which has earned accolades from the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Ernst & Young Jamaica. A former Youth Member of Parliament and long-time community volunteer, she will use her Humphrey Fellowship to deepen her policy expertise and drive Jamaica’s economic and environmental resilience. 

These flagship U.S. government exchange programs equip emerging leaders with advanced skills, expanded global networks, and cross-cultural insights. Upon returning home, alumni apply this expertise directly to Jamaica’s most pressing development priorities, strengthening the enduring partnership between the United States and Jamaica.