For the third consecutive year, Fordham University students have earned a record number of Fulbright Fellowships.
The spring crop of Fulbright Fellows currently stands at 13. What makes Fordham’s showing additionally impressive is that the number of 2009-2010 applications for the prestigious award was up 15 percent nationwide, noted Regina Plunkett-Dowling, Ph.D., who directs the Office of Fulbright and Graduate Fellowships.
This year, some 7,000 students applied for the prestigious award, which is administered by the U.S. Department of State and which offers funded opportunities for yearlong research and study abroad.
“For our students to win 13 Fulbright Fellowships in the face of such competition is really a tribute to them, their incredibly hard work, and the support of the Fordham community—especially the faculty,” Plunkett-Dowling said.
She noted that three of the 13 awardees were first-generation Americans. One became an American citizen just two years ago. “Results are still coming in, but this has already been a memorable year,” she said.
In 2007, Fordham students earned eight Fulbrights. Last year, Fordham earned 10 Fulbrights and was named one of the top-ranked research universities earning Fulbrights by the Chronicle of Higher Education.
“Success in the Fulbright competition is a reliable indicator of a university’s health,” Plunkett-Dowling said.
Pending successful completion of their academic work, as well as medical clearance, the Fulbright Fellows are:
• Anne Lieberman, FCLC ’09, an African and African-American studies major, awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Thailand for a project titled “Women in Muay Thai Boxing.”
• Veronica Mollere, FCLC ’09, a social work and visual arts major, awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Thailand.
• Jennifer Chang Li, FCLC ’09, an international studies major, awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Korea.
• Gary Gabor, a doctoral student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Belgium for “Boethius and the Transmission of Ancient Greek Logical Tradition.”
• Keeran Murphy, FCRH ’09, an English major, awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Korea.
• Paloma Gutierrez, who has earned a master of arts in International Political Economy and Development from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, awarded a Fulbright Bi-National Business Grant to Mexico.
• Matt DeSoi, FCLC ’09, awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Germany.
• Mark Nelson, FCLC ’09, awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to Vietnam.
• Madeline Felix, FCLC ’08, who earned her BA in theatre, awarded the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Vietnam.
• Anthony Cotton, who has earned a master of arts in International Political Economy and Development, as well as a master of arts in economics from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to South Africa for “Assessing the World Cup’s Impact on Durban’s Various Socioeconomic Groups.”
• Allison Waid, FCLC ’09, an international studies major, awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to China for “Independent and Unabashed: Young Rural Migrant Women Living Working and Dreaming in Wuhan, China.”
• Jessica Mahlbacher, FCLC ’07, awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Hong Kong.
• Ali Musa, FCLC ’09, a political science major, awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Jordan for a project titled “Structural Affinities Between Supranationalist Political Parties in Jordan.”
Plunkett-Dowling said that 43 Fordham students applied this year for the fellowships; 22 of them made the list of finalists.
“The University’s Jesuit ideal of producing ‘men and women for others’ is truly fulfilled in these awards,” Plunkett-Dowling added. “Our graduates will make valuable contributions across the globe, from Bangkok to Mexico City.”
