Fulbright Specialist Award

As director of equine programs for the Institute for Human-Animal Connection and lead faculty for the Human-Animal-Environment Interactions in Social Work MSW certificate at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW), Adjunct Professor Nina Ekholm Fry is already well known internationally for her expertise incorporating animal interactions in psychotherapy and her work in equine behavior. In spring 2026, Iceland specifically requested that she share her knowledge as a vising Fulbright Specialist.

The Fulbright Specialist Program is as rigorous as other Fulbright awards. It is simply shorter duration, with specialists being matched to open projects that can be completed in two to six weeks. For her project on the topic of humans, horses, and mental health, Ekholm Fry delivered lectures and seminars, met with students, collaborated with colleagues at Hólar Universityand University of Iceland, and presented at Iceland’s largest Animal-Assisted Services Conference to date. She also engaged with the larger community of Icelandic human service professionals who incorporate animals in their work, consulting on topics such as professionalization and organization within Iceland.

Ekholm Fry explains that Iceland has a deep relationship with horses. The country is home to the Icelandic horse, a unique breed developed over the past 1,000 years to thrive in Iceland’s harsh environment and the only horse breed allowed in the country. This closely protected heritage breed has helped to focus the nation’s interest on equine welfare and related issues, such as inclusion of horses and other animals in human services. She notes that in Iceland, animals have been informally part of human health services and education services for decades, though supporting professional and educational infrastructure is a more recent development.

At the national conference, Ekholm Fry gave a keynote presentation on psychosocial effects of human–animal interactions and convened a panel of experts from Nordic countries, facilitating a discussion on advancement, barriers, and opportunities for professionalization in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, which have longstanding professional organizations to support and advance animal–assisted services.

In addition to her role as a researcher, Ekholm Fry is a clinician specializing in trauma treatment and has included animals in psychotherapy for nearly two decades. She has a particular interest in applied ethics and social justice perspectives within human–animal interactions, including human–horse conflict. She says, “It’s exciting to see support for a Fulbright award in the area of human–animal interactions in human health. The strengthening of the human–animal bond and our relationship with nature can contribute to health and well-being across cultures.”

Dean Henrika McCoy notes, “Professor Ekholm Fry’s Fulbright Specialist award is an incredible accomplishment. It speaks to the depth of her international impact as an advocate for the welfare and well-being of human and nonhuman animals alike. We are fortunate to have such a well-respected leader on our faculty at GSSW.”