Five University of Mary Washington students and alumni will travel, teach and explore new cultures thanks to prestigious Fulbright grants. The awards highlight the best results in the University’s history of student Fulbright awards, bringing the total to 18 scholarships since 2006. In 2013, the Chronicle of Higher Education recognized UMW as one of the top producers of U.S. Fulbright scholars.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. exchange program offering opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and primary and secondary school teaching worldwide. The program currently awards approximately 1,900 grants annually in all fields of study, and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide
“All five grantees participated in UMW study abroad programs and worked one on one with faculty,” said Nabil Al-Tikriti, associate professor of history and advisor for the Fulbright program. “The resulting grants illustrate UMW’s rounded approach to the liberal arts, with recipients representing a variety of majors and disciplines.”
Anna Boland ’16 will teach English in Niedersachsen, Germany. A German major with a minor in business administration, Boland studied abroad in Göttingen, a university town in Niedersachsen, during the spring of 2015 and has traveled extensively throughout Germany.
“I hope to inspire students to have a greater appreciation and curiosity for foreign cultures,” said Boland, who is from Leesburg, Va. “The program is an invaluable opportunity to foster a better understanding between German and American cultures.”
At UMW, Boland was a resident assistant for three years and was a member of BellAcappella for two years, serving as co-director this spring.
Lauren Bortfeld ’15 will teach in Argentina. Currently finishing her master’s in education at UMW, Bortfeld will graduate this spring with a specialization in foreign language instruction.
“My family has a Latino background,” said Bortfeld, who is from Fredericksburg, Va. “But it wasn’t until I studied abroad that I fell in love with the language and the Spanish culture.”
During her time at UMW, Bortfeld was on the UMW rowing team and part of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. She studied abroad in Quito, Ecuador during her second year.
Luci Coleman ’16 will conduct research in Cape Town, South Africa, at the University of the Western Cape. Working with Richard Knight, a professor within the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, she will research the impact of invasive species on fynbos freshwater ecosystems.
A double major in biology and environmental geology with a GIS Certificate, Coleman has made two trips abroad through UMW, studying sustainability issues faced by both the Galapagos Islands and in post-apartheid South Africa. Earlier this year, she delivered over 400 sustainable solar lanterns to impoverished families in Moshi, Tanzania, after raising $5,000 to form a grant through Friends of Tanzania, a local non-profit. Currently, Coleman is a GIS Data Manager at Next Tier Concepts, Vienna, VA.
Lisa Johnson ‘15 will teach English at an elementary school in La Rioja, Spain. After she graduates with her master’s in education from UMW this May, Johnson will spend the summer substitute teaching in Fairfax County and working on an organic farm in Buenos Aires.
“I promised myself that I would be fluent in Spanish one day, mostly so that I can be a better teacher for my Spanish-speaking students when I return to the U.S.” said Johnson, who is from Vienna, Va. “I am thrilled for the opportunity to improve my Spanish and to gain a new cultural perspective.”
As an undergrad at UMW, Johnson was a highly active member of UMW Symfonics acapella group, a tutor at the UMW Writing Center, and a tutor for adult English language learners and low-income students in the Fredericksburg community. She studied abroad in Bilbao, Spain and Bath, England. Johnson is a proud member of Phi Beta Kappa, and received the Darden Award for the highest grade point average in her graduating class of 2015.
Cara Wimberley ’15 will teach English in Turkey. Currently, she is an AmeriCorps member in Pittsburgh, Pa., where she teaches English to newly settled refugees and immigrants at the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council.
“I’ve learned so much about teaching English in the past year,” said Wimberley, who is from Blacksburg, Va. “Every English class is different though, so experiences in different countries and classrooms will be very beneficial.”
At UMW, Wimberley was involved in PRISM, the Psi Chi honor society, and served as a mentor for international students and as a student aide in the Multicultural Center. She studied abroad in Amman, Jordan, studying Arabic and Middle Eastern studies in spring 2014.
In addition to the five Fulbright recipients, UMW alumna Shirley Martey was named an alternate to teach English in Turkey, while UMW student Alexandra Hoenscheid was named an alternate for a Fulbright research scholarship in Germany. Finally, Ellen Rives Kuhar was named a semi-finalist to teach English in Croatia. In addition to the 18 scholarships awarded to UMW students and alumni since 2006, 19 applicants have been named alternates or semi-finalists, out of a total 106 applicants.
The 2015-2016 Fulbright Campus Evaluation Committee consisted of co-FPAs Nabil Al-Tikriti and Dianne Baker, as well as Caitie Finlayson, Jennifer Hansen-Glucklich, Rosemary Jesionowski, Pat Reynolds, and Ann Witkowski. In addition to evaluating applications for feasibility and appropriateness, this committee advised and assisted each applicant with the application process.
For more information about applying for Fulbright scholarships through UMW, contact Nabil Al-Tikriti at naltikri@umw.edu.