A Fulbright Award, A Career in Law

Baylor’s investment in supporting outstanding students in their pursuits of elite international scholarships has led to the development of leaders across numerous fields around the world. We tracked down many of these individuals to see where their careers took them after these experiences. Ross Natividad is one such alumnus.

Like many of the scholars before and after him, Ross Natividad, B.A. ’10, M.A. ’12, J.D.,  saw his academic path from undergraduate studies to a major scholarship run through the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core (BIC) and the OEL on to earning the Fulbright Scholarship in 2012.

“The Fulbright allowed me to teach high school English in West Timor, Indonesia, from 2012 to 2013,” Natividad said. “I instructed freshman-level classes, assisted in creating an after school English club and coordinated an exchange program allowing my host school’s students to study in the United States.”

After his Fulbright studies, Natividad attended William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia, narrowing his chosen field to international and immigration law. After clerking for the state circuit court in Virginia and immigration courts in San Antonio and Fort Worth, he now serves as an Assistant Chief Counsel for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“My time at Baylor indelibly shaped my career path,” Natividad said. “By majoring in Spanish and International Studies, I was fortunate to learn from professors who deepened my passion for languages, cultures, political systems and global issues.”

With his recent move to the Dallas area, Natividad and his family are looking forward to being more active and involved in the Baylor community.

“I am excited to be close to Waco to reconnect with fellow alums and my former professors, give career advice to current students and support our Bears,” Natividad said. “Looking back, the relationships and networks I formed at Baylor and through the Fulbright shaped the person I am today. I would recommend anyone who wishes to follow a similar path to develop and foster your connections, push yourself outside comfort zones and maximize opportunities to fling that green and gold afar.”