Berg receives prestigious Fulbright award

Erika Berg, associate professor of animal sciences at North Dakota State University, received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to travel to teach and study in Iceland.

Berg will work with faculty and students at Hólar University to develop a global undergraduate and graduate curriculum in equine-assisted services during the spring 2026 semester. She also plans to establish research connections and investigate the unique attributes of the Icelandic horse for this type of work.

Berg says she’s grateful for the opportunity this Fulbright award will provide to work with educators and researchers of equine-assisted services internationally. She got the news of her receiving the award in late April.

“I honestly could not be more excited to collaborate with others who share a love for this field,” says Berg. “This award will not only elevate the equine programming we offer at NDSU for veterans and individuals living with disabilities — it will also facilitate the development of global partnerships.”

Berg joined the NDSU animal sciences department in 2008. In 2017, she founded Bison Strides, a program that researches, educates and supports equine-assisted services. Veterans and people with physical, cognitive and mental health diagnoses participate in equine programming designed to maximize independence and build transferable skills through horsemanship. Additionally, NDSU students can develop critical thinking skills and put classroom lessons into practice through these services’ teaching and learning activities.

Partnering horses and humans to improve the health and well-being of both species is a growing interdisciplinary field, according to Berg.

“Greater self-confidence, increased strength and balance and improved emotional regulation are all demonstrated outcomes of horse-human interventions. Elucidating the mechanisms of action at play is essential to deepen our understanding of the physiological processes involved,” she says.

Berg is one of more than 800 U.S. citizens who will teach, conduct research or provide expertise abroad for the academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as their record of service and leadership in their respective fields.

“Educating future practitioners on best practices in the field is critical for optimal outcomes,” she adds.

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide. Berg’s award is supported in part by Fulbright Iceland.

In the U.S., the Institute of International Education implements the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Programs. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org.

To learn more about NDSU’s Bison Strides programming, visit https://www.bisonstrides.org/.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – May 23, 2025

Source: Erika Berg, 701-231-9611, erika.berg@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu