Fifteen GW alumni and one doctoral student are spending the 2011-12 academic year teaching and doing research in Europe, Africa and Asia as winners of Fulbright Scholarships.
Through Fulbright’s U.S. Student Program, the 16 award recipients are examining a wide range of issues, including obesity, breast cancer and nuclear energy.
“Our current winners display an international outlook and concern that is remarkably far-reaching,” said Paul Hoyt-O’Connor, director of George Washington’s Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research. “They exemplify the desire felt by so many on our campus to forge stronger ties with other peoples and foster greater cross-cultural understanding.”
The brainchild of GW Law School alumnus and U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright, L.L.B. ’34, the Fulbright Scholarship Program provides funding for study and research abroad in a range of disciplines, including social sciences, business, performing arts, physical sciences, engineering and education and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The 2011-12 recipients will be working on a variety of topics around the globe.
Julie Bailey, B.A. ’11, and Rupita Chakraborty, B.A. ’11, will teach English in India and Indonesia, respectively.
Sarah Conner, B.A. ’11, will examine the role of fast food in Egypt’s diet, nutritional awareness and obesity rates.
Amanda Eller, B.A. ’10, will research the relationships between mainline Protestant missionaries, African-initiated Christian churches and Vodou practitioners in Benin.
Patrick Funiciello, a doctoral student in Latin American history, will complete his dissertation research on the role of contraband in the Spanish Empire during the period from 1580 to 1640 in Spain.
Leslie Jessen, B.A. ’10, will teach English in Georgia and intern at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies.
Carolyn Kerchof, B.A. ’10, and Daoyen Lei, B.A. ’11, will teach English in Germany.
Caitlin Loehr, B.A. ’10, will examine how community radio could be used to promote sustainable development in rural and poverty-stricken communities in Senegal.
Emma Morse, B.A. ’11, will research breast cancer awareness and prevention strategies in Tanzania among women in urban and rural communities.
Betsy Myers, B.A. ’11, will examine Jordan’s growing nuclear energy program and its regional and domestic impacts.
Victoria Roman, B.A. ’11, will teach English and start an afterschool theater program for girls in Tajikistan.
Cascade Tuholske, B.A. ’10, will teach English and research civic engagement programs in Bulgaria.
Sarah Tynen, B.A. ’11, will examine the impact of China’s urban renewal on the preservation of its traditions and cultural identity.
Kristen Van Nest, B.A. ’10, will research how historical information has been used by Luxembourg’s government and business communities to create a future-oriented image of the nation.
Harry Wodehouse, B.A. ’10, will research the effectiveness of English in Mauritius as the language of instruction and assessment in Mauritian primary education.
GW has been recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education as a top producer of Fulbright students. Mr. Hoyt-O’Connor said George Washington has a high number of Fulbright winners year after year because the mission of the Fulbright program is “so closely aligned with [the students’] own academic and co-curricular passions.”
“The Fulbright presents to our students, especially those who have studied abroad in non-traditional destinations and those with significant participation in undergraduate research, a wonderful opportunity to bring all the facets of their undergraduate experience together,” he said. “I am thrilled that so many have chosen to work very hard on pursuing this opportunity and I am most pleased by their success.”
“I am also deeply grateful for the many members of the university community—including faculty mentors, letter writers and language evaluators—who assisted them on their applications,” he added.