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App State ranked the nation’s top producer of Fulbright U.S. Scholars in 2019–20

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“We are thrilled that our colleagues had such a phenomenal level of success in the Fulbright Scholar Program in 2019.”

Dr. Ece Karatan, vice provost for research

“The Fulbright Scholar Program allows faculty to bring back to their students that global perspective in their classrooms, their research and their mentoring to students.”

Dr. Maria Anastasiou, OIED’s executive director

App State Fulbright Scholar Program
App State Fulbright Scholar Program

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

At App State, the program is administered through the Office of International Education and Development (OIED) and Office of Research.

Learn more
By Linda Coutant
Posted Feb. 13, 2020 at 9:37 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University is the nation’s top producer of Fulbright scholars among master’s institutions in 2019–20, according to the U.S. Department of State and Institute of International Education (IIE). A total of six Appalachian faculty plus one administrator received the prestigious award during this award cycle, a record number for the university.

This is the fourth time Appalachian has placed in the top 10 list for Fulbright U.S. Scholars among master’s institutions. Last year, the university tied for first place with College of Charleston, with four scholars each. See the list

“We are thrilled that our colleagues had such a phenomenal level of success in the Fulbright Scholar Program in 2019.”

Dr. Ece Karatan, vice provost for research

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program.

The faculty recipients from Appalachian:

  • The Reich College of Education’s Dr. Paul Wallace in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies, who is spending the full 2019–20 academic year in Russia engaging in cross-cultural collaboration to prepare international leaders.
  • The College of Arts and Sciences’ Dr. Richard Gray in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, who is spending the full academic year teaching astronomical spectroscopy and conducting research at the University of the Free State in South Africa.
  • The College of Arts and Sciences’ Mark Powell in the Department of English, who is teaching contemporary U.S. literature at Ovidius University of Constanta, in Romania, during the spring semester and conducting research for his seventh novel.
  • The College of Arts and Sciences’ Dr. Christina Verano Sornito-Carter in the Department of Anthropology, who will conduct research in the Philippines in August at the University of the Philippines Visayas on heritage conservation and disaster management movements related to island dwelling in the 21st century.
  • The Beaver College of Health Sciences’ Dr. Dave Williams in the Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management, who is in Austria this spring teaching health care management to a diverse group of international students at Management Center Innsbruck (MCI). He is also conducting research on Austrian and other central European biopharmaceutical ecosystems.
  • The College of Arts and Sciences’ Dr. Alexandra Sterling-Hellenbrand, professor of German and global studies in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, who is teaching interdisciplinary courses this spring at the University of Graz in Austria.

A former administrator also received a Fulbright to visit India in March 2019 in relation to the recruitment of international students.

“The Fulbright Scholar Program allows faculty to bring back to their students that global perspective in their classrooms, their research and their mentoring to students.”

Dr. Maria Anastasiou, OIED’s executive director

Appalachian’s Office of International Education and Development (OIED) and Office of Research encourage and support faculty applications for Fulbright awards because of what they see as the program’s global benefits. These include faculty sharing academic knowledge with colleagues and students in other countries, and then bringing the knowledge they learn from this exchange back to the Appalachian students, faculty and staff. They, in turn, develop stronger intercultural communication skills, a better understanding of others and stronger empathy skills for other cultures.

“Appalachian’s mission is to develop individuals who lead purposeful lives as engaged global citizens. The Fulbright Scholar program allows faculty to bring back to their students that global perspective in their classrooms, their research and their mentoring to students. OIED is proud to be working with the Office of Research to help faculty accomplish this mission,” said Dr. Maria Anastasiou, OIED’s executive director.

Dr. Ece Karatan, vice provost for research, said, “One of our priorities at the Office of Research has been enhancing international research opportunities. Over the last several years, we have been working closely with OIED to support our faculty applying for Fulbright fellowships. We are thrilled that our colleagues had such a phenomenal level of success in the Fulbright Scholar Program in 2019.”

About the Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Over 900 U.S. college and university faculty and administrators and over 2,200 U.S. students are awarded Fulbright grants annually. In addition, some 4,000 Fulbright Foreign Students and Visiting Scholars come to the United States annually to study, lecture, conduct research or teach their native language.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has given over 390,000 accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to important international problems. The global network of Fulbrighters fosters mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, advances knowledge across communities and improves lives around the globe.

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App State Fulbright Scholar Program
App State Fulbright Scholar Program

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

At App State, the program is administered through the Office of International Education and Development (OIED) and Office of Research.

Learn more
App State named a top producer of Fulbright students in 2019–20
App State named a top producer of Fulbright students in 2019–20
Feb. 13, 2020

In addition to being a top producer of Fulbright scholars, Appalachian is among top producers of Fulbright students for 2019–20.

Read the story
Appalachian ties for top producer of Fulbright Scholars among master’s institutions
Appalachian ties for top producer of Fulbright Scholars among master’s institutions
Feb. 15, 2019

With four Fulbright Scholars, Appalachian ties with College of Charleston for the highest number of people receiving the prestigious honor in 2018–19, among master’s institutions.

Read the story
App State faculty earn record number of Fulbright awards for university
App State faculty earn record number of Fulbright awards for university
Nov. 1, 2019

Six nations are represented by Appalachian’s record number of Fulbright awards, which are designed to enhance global relations and problem-solving.

Read the story
Appalachian sets new record with 4 Fulbright U.S. Student Program finalists
Appalachian sets new record with 4 Fulbright U.S. Student Program finalists
April 30, 2019

Appalachian alumni Megan Holt-Smith ’15 ’16, John Kennedy ’16 and Emma Labovitz ’18, along with senior psychology major Caroline Webb, will use their Fulbright awards to study, conduct research and teach abroad during the 2019–20 academic year.

Read the story

About the Office of International Programs

Appalachian State University combines a strong liberal arts foundation with a comprehensive, pervasive and integrated commitment to global engagement. The Office of International Programs assists App State in fulfilling its global engagement mission by working to develop awareness, knowledge, appreciation and respect of cultural differences — in both domestic and international contexts — in the university’s students, faculty and staff, as well as in the surrounding communities. Learn more at https://international.appstate.edu.

About the Office of Research and Innovation

Appalachian State University’s Office of Research and Innovation supports the scholarly and creative activities of App State faculty, staff and students by expanding access to and facilitating the management of research opportunities. The office consists of four units: Grants Resources and Services, Sponsored Programs, Research Design and Analysis, and Research Protections. The office also collaborates with the university’s Special Funds Accounting on the fiscal management of awarded projects. Learn more at https://research.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

“We are thrilled that our colleagues had such a phenomenal level of success in the Fulbright Scholar Program in 2019.”

Dr. Ece Karatan, vice provost for research

“The Fulbright Scholar Program allows faculty to bring back to their students that global perspective in their classrooms, their research and their mentoring to students.”

Dr. Maria Anastasiou, OIED’s executive director

App State named a top producer of Fulbright students in 2019–20
App State named a top producer of Fulbright students in 2019–20
Feb. 13, 2020

In addition to being a top producer of Fulbright scholars, Appalachian is among top producers of Fulbright students for 2019–20.

Read the story
App State Fulbright Scholar Program
App State Fulbright Scholar Program

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

At App State, the program is administered through the Office of International Education and Development (OIED) and Office of Research.

Learn more

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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