Penn State No. 1 producer of Fulbright Scholars

Penn State No. 1 producer of Fulbright Scholars

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Chronicle of Higher Education reported on Monday (Oct. 24) that Penn State leads the nation in outgoing faculty Fulbright grants with 14 awards at the University Park campus. In addition, two grants were awarded to faculty and staff at Penn State campuses. These awards enable faculty and staff members to engage in research, teaching and seminars in countries around the world.

Michael Adewumi, vice provost for Global Programs commented on the University's placement this year, saying "I am very pleased to see Penn State ranked number one in Fulbright Faculty Scholars for the 2011-2012 academic year. Penn State is strongly committed to engaging the strength of our faculty, in partnership with other leading institutions around the world, in resolving some of the global challenges of our time. This is the true spirit of the Fulbright program."

The following faculty have been awarded Fulbright grants for the 2011-12 academic year. One further grant is in process and will be announced as soon as the arrangements are finalized.
 
Marie Louise Abram, director of International Programs and External Relations at Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College; to Germany for the U.S.- Germany International Education Administrators Program.
 
Ricky Bates, associate professor of ornamental horticulture in the  College of Agricultural Sciences; lecturing and research grant to Maejo University in Chiang Mai, Thailand for a project entitled, "Expanding Economic Opportunities for Rural Poor Farmers."

Timothy J. Bralower, professor and head of geosciences in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences;  lecturing and research grant to the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia for a project entitled, "An Australian-U.S. Partnership in Global Climate Change Science and Education."

Susan C. Faircloth, associate professor of education in the College of Education; research grant to Victoria University of Wellington in Wellington, New Zealand for a project entitled, "Learning to Lead: Facilitating Collaborative Research Initiatives With the Indigenous Schools and Communities of New Zealand."

Mku Thaddeus Ityokumbul, associate professor of mineral processing and geo-environmental engineering in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences; lecturing and research grant to Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria for a project entitled, "Process Development for Beneficiation of Nigerian Iron Ores."

Karen Treat Keifer-Boyd, professor of art education and affiliate professor of women's studies in the College of Arts and Architecture; lecturing and research grant to the University of Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria for a project entitled, "Arts-Based Social Justice Activism: Insight, Inquiry, Imagination, Embodiment, Relationality."

Neil Korostoff, associate professor of landscape architecture in the College of Arts and Architecture; research grant to Istanbul Technical University in Istanbul, Turkey for a project entitled, "Participatory Resource Management in Koprulu Kanyon National Park, Turkey: Integrating Advanced Geospatial Tools and Participatory Planning."

Linda Holly Mason, associate professor of special education in the College of Education; lecturing grant to the University of Szeged in Szeged, Hungary for a project entitled, "Inclusive Practices for Literacy: Applications for Hungarian Teachers."

Dana Mitra, associate professor of education in the College of Education; research grant to the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bengaluru, India for a project entitled, "How Does Child Consultation Occur in Indian Schools? Finding Student Voice in Karnataka."

Mahdi Nasereddin, associate professor of information sciences and technology at Penn State Berks; lecturing grant to the University of Nizwa in Barkat al-Muz, Oman.

Emily Rauschert, senior project associate in Crop and Soil Sciences in the College of Agriculture; research grant to the University of Pecs in Pecs, Hungary, for a project entitled, "Modeling the Spread and Local Dynamics of Invasive Goldenrods in Hungary for Improved Management."

Philip A. Schrodt, professor of political science in the College of the Liberal Arts; research grant to PRIO - International Peace Research Institute, Oslo, Norway, for a project entitled, "Analysis of Sub-State Political Conflict."

James Sellers, professor and director of undergraduate mathematics in the Eberly College of Science; lecturing and research grant to Johannes Kepler University Linz in Linz, Austria for a project entitled, "Partition Function Congruences and Computations."

Charles Snow, professor and chair of management and organization in the Smeal College of Business; lecturing and research grant to the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration in Vienna, Austria for a project entitled, "Collaborative Innovation."

Andrea H. Tapia, associate professor of information sciences and technology in the College of Information Sciences and Technology; lecturing and research grant to the University of Costa Rica in San Jose, Costa Rica, for a project entitled, "Improving Emergency Preparedness and Response in Costa Rica Through Law, Coordination and Technologies."

Penn State also will welcome the following distinguished visiting Fulbright scholars to campus during the 2011-12 academic year:
 
Hina Ashraf, assistant professor, Air University in Islamabad, Pakistan; hosted by Suresh Canagarajah, Edwin Erle Sparks Professor in the College of the Liberal Arts; for project entitled "Exploring Learner Identities: Perceptions of Education and their Implications."
 
Moez Chafra, associate professor, University of November 7, La Marsa, Tunisia; hosted by Zoubeida Ounaies, associate professor of mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering; for project entitled "Study of New Composite Materials with Natural Reinforcement."
 
Elmer Edgardo Corea, professor and director, Universidad de EL Salvador, San Salvador El Salvador; hosted by Jud Heinrichs, professor of dairy and animal science in the College of Agricultural Sciences; for project entitled "Diet Evaluation to Reduce Nutriet Waste and Increase Feed Efficiency and Productivity in Cattle to Contribute to Food Security in El Salvador."
 
Martun Hovhannisyan, scientist, Scientific and Production Enterprise of Material Science, Yerevan, Armenia; hosted by Michael Lanagan, professor of engineering science and mechanics in the College of Engineering; for project entitled "New Glass and Ceramics for High Energy Density Capacitors and Dielectrically Tunable Microwave Applications."
 
Kamolwan Israkarn, student, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; hosted by Gregory Ziegler, professor of food science in the College of Agricultural Sciences; for project entitled "Characteristics of Salt-Induced Spherulite Formation of Mungbean and Cassava Starch at Low Temperature."
 
Mahmuda Khatun, associate professor, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh; hosted by Leif Jensen, professor of rural sociology and demography in the College of Agricultural Sciences; for project entitled "Home But No Home for Environmental Refugees: The Journey Towards Identity Crisis."
 
Mustapha Naimi, professor, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute in Rabat, Morocco; hosted by Armen Kemanian, assistant professor of production systems and modeling in the College of Agricultural Sciences; for project entitled "Development of an Information and Decision Support System for Cereal and Sugar Beet Production in Morocco."
 
Ezzeldin Shafei Mohamed Osman, professor in the faculty of science, Cairo University in Cairo, Egypt; hosted by James Runt, professor of polymer science in the College of Engineering; for project entitled "Dielectric Polymer Nanocomposites for High Energy Storage."
 
Mohammad Nawwar Shamout, associate professor, Damascus University Damascus, Syria; hosted by Klaus Keller, associate professor of geosciences in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences; for project entitled "Climate Changes and Its Impact on Economical Project Through Changes on the Available Water Resources."
 
The Fulbright program, the U.S. Government's flagship program in international education exchange, features many options beyond the traditional lecture and research awards and scholarships for students.

The article in The Chronicle can be found at http://chronicle.com/article/Fulbright-Keeps-Moving-Forward/129499/.

For more information about the senior Fulbright program and the opportunities available, visit the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) Web site at www.cies.org. For help with your application, contact Associate Director of Faculty and Campus Engagement Sylvester Osagie at 814-867-4276 or soo1@psu.edu, or Faculty Fulbright Program Coordinator Janet Haner at 814-865-0771 or jah3@psu.edu.