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March/April 2008 Fulbright Scholarships Enable Faculty to Go Global
By Julia Parmley Three GW professors took their research and teaching skills around the world this academic year with the help of Fulbright scholarships. Daina Eglitis, assistant professor of sociology and international affairs, spent the fall semester in Riga, Latvia, teaching classes in modern sociological theory with a focus on cultural studies and the sociology of gender at the Latvian Academy of Culture, a small humanities and liberal arts college. “I had terrific students and a wonderful experience,” says Eglitis. “It was a privilege to be able both to bring the knowledge I have to students in Latvia and to learn from my experiences teaching and doing research there.” Henry Hale, assistant professor of political science, went to Russia in September and will remain there until July, sharing his insights into Russian politics with students. “I felt quite honored upon learning I had been named a Fulbright Scholar and remain excited about the opportunity to spend a year in Russia,” says Hale, whose interest in the country’s political system dates back to his high school days. “While Russia is not always easy, it is a fun and interesting place to live. I’m grateful to the Fulbright program for giving me a rare opportunity to spend nearly a whole year there.” Donna Infeld, professor of public policy and public administration, taught graduate courses in program evaluation and health policy at the Renmin University of China in Beijing during the fall 2007 semester. She says she was honored to receive the award, adding that public administration is one of the areas in which the Chinese government requested scholars. “In addition, my husband and I adopted our daughter from China almost 12 years ago, and we wanted her to have an opportunity to learn about her culture and start learning the language,” she says. GW also is hosting visiting international professors who conduct research and teach at the University through the Fulbright Scholarship Program. They are: Abeer Abdelrahman (Egypt), Khagani Abdullayev (Azerbaijan), Yuto Kitamura (Japan), Prasad Kunduri (India), Jose Lima Filho (Brazil), Claudia Martinez Garcia (Mexico), Vit Smetana (Czech Republic), Xianlin Wang (China), and Yonzhi Wo (China). The Fulbright Scholarship Program, the brainchild of GW Law School alumnus and former U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright, L.L.B. ’34, provides funding for study and research abroad in a wide range of disciplines, including social sciences, business, performing arts, physical sciences, engineering, and education. The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Since its inception in 1946, the program has provided more than 275,000 participants worldwide with the opportunity to observe other political, economic, and cultural institutions, exchange ideas, and embark on joint ventures of importance to the general welfare of the world’s inhabitants.
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