Four recent UT San Antonio graduates are using their academic experiences and cross-cultural skills to succeed in their new international career opportunities after being selected for the prestigious Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program.
Arwen Addison ’26, Ian Caldwell ’25, Peter Vasquez ’26 and Richardson (Grayson) Walsh ’26, all Honors College students, will work in Japan as English teachers beginning this fall, following a rigorous multi-round screening and interview process.
This competitive cultural exchange program is an initiative of the Japanese government that places participants in job positions such as assistant English language teachers and coordinators for international relations across Japan to promote international exchange and cross-cultural understanding.
The JET Program, now in its fourth decade, is administered by the Japanese government and is widely regarded as one of the largest and most competitive cultural exchange programs in the world. Participants serve as English language teachers, sports education advisors or coordinators for international relations for local governments and boards of education.
Vasquez, a modern languages major with a computer science minor, brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to his placement. His passion for Japanese language and culture was deepened during a summer study abroad program in Japan in 2024.
Walsh, a history major with an East Asian studies minor, has cultivated a deep scholarly interest in Japan throughout his undergraduate career, including a summer study abroad experience in Japan in 2025. This past spring, he earned first prize presenting this experience at the Honors College Experiential Learning Fair.
Caldwell majored in computer science with a minor in East Asian studies. He participated in a summer study abroad program in Japan in 2023 as a Gilman Scholar and has since demonstrated an exceptional commitment to bridging technology and cross-cultural engagement.
Addison was a double major in art and modern languages. She studied abroad in Japan in 2023 and was the first recipients of the Honors College Study Abroad Mentorship Award, which awards $70,000 annually in scholarships for students who want to attend programs to study, intern or do community projects around the world.
“I deeply admire these globally minded students for their commitment to service, teaching, and learning,” said Mimi Yu, professor of practice in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. “I am incredibly proud of their hard work and accomplishments.”
Yu developed the Honors College Study Abroad Program in Japan, where she worked closely with each of the student recipients of the JET Program, helping to steward their interest in the international opportunities.
