{"id":214664,"date":"2021-05-19T15:29:44","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T19:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=214664"},"modified":"2021-05-24T11:28:51","modified_gmt":"2021-05-24T15:28:51","slug":"full-of-fulbrights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2021\/05\/19\/full-of-fulbrights\/","title":{"rendered":"Full of Fulbrights"},"content":{"rendered":"

When she received word that she is a 2021-2022 Fulbright finalist for the U.S. Student Program, it took\u00a0Emily Ip \u201920<\/strong>\u00a0a few moments to process the news. \u201cI was in utter disbelief. I kept rereading the award letter thinking I was reading it wrong, and just broke down in tears of joy,\u201d says Ip.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\u201cI\u2019m
Emily Ip \u201920, Fulbright U.S. Student Program finalist for 2021-2022.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>
\n

Ip is part of a record-breaking number of Fulbright semi-finalists and finalists (or winners) in a single year who are part of the Montclair State community. Earlier this semester,\u00a0five Red Hawk students were announced as Fulbright U.S. Student Program semi-finalists<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In addition to Ip, the three student finalists are\u00a0Carmen Rosario<\/strong>\u00a0\u201920<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Blenda Alexandre<\/strong>\u00a0\u201915, \u201919 MA<\/strong>. (The two student semi-finalists are\u00a0Alyssa Clauhs<\/strong>\u00a0\u201917<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Archana Prasad<\/strong>\u00a0\u201918<\/strong>.) In addition, recent doctoral graduate\u00a0Gail Perry-Ryder<\/strong>\u00a0\u201920 PhD<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Peter E. Siegel,\u00a0<\/strong>professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology, have been selected as Fulbright U.S. Scholars.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

The competitive Fulbright program, founded in 1946 by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright, funded by Congress and sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, aims to foster goodwill and understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries through the international exchange of students and scholars.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Gail
Gail Perry-Ryder earned a PhD in Teacher Education and Teacher Development in 2020.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>
\n

Gail Perry-Ryder<\/strong> won the Fulbright scholarship for her work in Barbados where she is studying how a nation’s educational systems respond to social transformation. \u201cForty percent of the grant will be spent documenting the experiences of Barbadian teachers managing the impact of local and national policies instituted in response to the coronavirus pandemic,\u201d says Perry-Ryder, with 60% of her time spent assisting Erdiston College with the development of a research center to promote faculty and student research on issues of teaching and learning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am most excited because the information I learn could potentially benefit struggling teachers, teacher candidates whose studies have been interrupted, and students whose schooling has been totally transformed over the past year.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\"Professor
Professor Peter E. Siegel, chair of the Department of Anthropology, on a previous National Science Foundation and National Geographic-funded project in Caribbean historical ecology\/paleoenvironmental reconstruction.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Representing Montclair State faculty as a Fulbright Scholar,\u00a0Peter E. Siegel<\/strong>\u00a0will be teaching and researching for two semesters in Jamaica, collaborating with Zachary J. M. Beier of the University of the West Indies at Mona to update Jamaica National Heritage Trust legislation, develop protocols for systematically addressing heritage resources, and foster improved interagency cooperation.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Carmen
Carmen Rosario \u201920, Child Advocacy and Policy, is headed for the Canary Islands, Spain, as an English Teaching Assistant, and hopes to inspire other first-generation college students.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>
\n

Carmen Rosario<\/strong>\u00a0will be working in the Canary Islands of Spain as an English Teaching Assistant (ETA). She says that as a first generation college student, she doubted herself and experienced a letdown when her Peace Corps mission to the Dominican Republic was canceled last year due to the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I found out about my acceptance into Fulbright, I almost couldn\u2019t believe it. With the pandemic and so many changes happening around me I didn\u2019t have any expectations,\u201d she says, adding that after the news sank in, \u201cI felt a sense of relief and pride because my biggest goal after graduation was to work abroad before applying to graduate school. I am extremely grateful and I\u2019m excited to see how I will grow personally and professionally and hopefully inspire other first-generation college students to never limit themselves. My mantra is always to apply ourselves and dream big!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\n
\"Blenda
Blenda P. Alexandre \u201915, \u201919 MA, who earned a BA in Psychology, an MA in Clinical Psychology and certification in School Psychology, is headed for South Korea.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>
\n

Blenda P. Alexandre<\/strong>\u00a0will be working in South Korea. \u201cMy goal is to learn more about cultural exchange within schools,\u201d she says. \u201cWith the English Teaching Assistantships position, I will have firsthand experience in how it manifests in the classroom. My students will be able to learn American culture through my lenses and vice versa.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

Domenica Dominguez, director of the Office of International Academic Initiatives, which provides support to students applying for competitive international scholarships, is thrilled for the students she advised: \u201cThrough seeking and earning Fulbright awards, these outstanding alumni have demonstrated not only their academic excellence but also their profound commitment to intercultural understanding and to broadening their own perspectives. I congratulate each of them on their achievement!\u201d<\/p>\n

Story by\u00a0Mary Barr Mann<\/a>, with reporting by\u00a0Marilyn Joyce Lehren<\/a><\/p>\n

You may also like:<\/p>\n