A Love of Language Leads N’deye Diop ’26 to South Korea on a Fulbright

The graduating senior who studied Arabic, taught herself Korean and found community in the Language House will teach English abroad next year.

By Jessica Weiss ’05

N’deye Diop ’26 arrived at the University of Maryland firmly on a pre-med track. But the daughter of Senegalese immigrants, who grew up hearing Wolof and French at home, also carried a longtime fascination with language.

The graduating senior, a double major in biological sciences and Arabic studies, studied French in high school and immersed herself in Arabic at UMD. Then, drawn by Korean music and media, she began teaching herself Korean—eventually boarding a plane for the first time to study abroad at Yonsei University over winter term in 2023.

Next year, Diop will return to South Korea as a 2026-27 Fulbright Program English Teaching Assistant, working with students while continuing to deepen her own language skills and cultural understanding.

“I’m really excited,” Diop said. “I feel like UMD has given me so many opportunities to grow, explore and build toward something like this.”

Diop’s path at UMD has been shaped by curiosity. After arriving on campus focused on science and medicine, she found a home in the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and the Language House living-learning program, where she has lived for three years as part of the Arabic cluster. Surrounded by students studying languages and pursuing international opportunities, she began to imagine a future that included travel and cross-cultural exchange.

She also started to see her interests in medicine and language as deeply connected. In a clinical setting, she said, clear communication can shape whether patients feel comfortable asking questions and understanding their care.

“When you’re learning another language you’re building skills for empathy,” she said. “You’re learning to understand others, and that’s just so important in medicine.”

Her first trip to South Korea ignited a love of travel. Though she arrived with limited Korean, she pushed herself to use the language in everyday interactions, from ordering at a ramen shop to speaking with taxi drivers and store clerks. Even though many people could manage in English, she found her connections deepened when she attempted to communicate in Korean.

“I think people feel more comfortable talking about their sentiments in the language that they feel their heart belongs to the most,” Diop said. “Language breaks through those barriers.” 

Back at UMD, Diop founded JARA, the Korean Language and Culture Exchange Club, connecting Korean international students with domestic students interested in Korean language and culture. What began as an idea has grown into a thriving student-led community with events, cultural programming and guest speakers.

Diop has also built extensive experience in science, medicine and mentoring. She participated in biomedical research through UMD’s FIRE Program and at Johns Hopkins University and served as a peer mentor in mathematics and natural sciences, and she currently works in a medical office. Through the Maryland Mentor Corps, she worked with elementary school students in Prince George’s County, supporting students in math and reading—an experience she said helped prepare her for teaching abroad.

Diop also credited mentorship from Terp Fulbright alumni who helped guide her through the application process. She connected with Alyssa Taylor ’24 and Kavya Kumaran ’21, both former Fulbright English Teaching Assistants in South Korea, who offered feedback on her personal statements and insight into the experience.

“UMD has been such a rich environment to learn in,” Diop said. “It gave me the space to stay curious and explore different sides of myself.”

Diop plans to apply to medical school after her Fulbright year. Before heading to South Korea, she will spend three weeks in Japan this summer as a mentor with the Global Studies Program, an international education initiative that places mentors with students studying English.

Her advice to other students is to stay open and follow interests that feel meaningful—even when they don’t seem to fit neatly into a career plan. Her love of language has reshaped her trajectory in ways she never imagined.

“If you have an interest, really nourish it,” Diop said. “Even if it doesn’t seem like the most obvious path, it may lead you somewhere meaningful.”