UM-Dearborn recognized by Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program has named UM-Dearborn as a top producer of the prestigious international award.

The exchange program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, awarded multiple grants to UM-Dearborn faculty in the 2022-2023 cycle. The rankings can be seen here.

“This achievement is a testament to your institution’s deep commitment to international exchange and to building lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries,” U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken wrote in a letter to Chancellor Domenico Grasso. Blinken congratulated UM-Dearborn’s Office of Global Education team for their hard work, the campus’ engaged faculty members and Office of International Affairs Assistant Director Emily Wang, who is the university’s Fulbright liaison.

Three College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters faculty are teaching and conducting research on two continents — Southeast Asia and Europe — through the international program during the 2022-2023 cycle.

• Linguistics Professor Daniel Davis is in the Philippines partnering with Ateneo de Manila University. Davis is studying how people in the Philippines use English — specifically looking at the language’s influence in culture and the culture’s influence on the language.
• Sociology Professor Paul Draus is working with an underserved Lithuanian neighborhood to promote and implement environmental and social justice efforts, along with incorporating neighborhood histories into the design of amenities that reflect the life in their communities. Draus is collaborating with faculty at the Vytautas Magnus University to help residents protect their landscapes — both cultural and physical — from businesses who are looking to develop the area without considering the people who live there.
• Composition and Rhetoric Lecturer Kristian Stewart developed a course teaching English, writing and digital storytelling at the University of the Peloponnese’s Department of Social and Educational Policy. She said, “Greece has traditionally been very homogeneous in population makeup — and there is a lot of pressure to integrate due to globalization and migration; hence, their society is becoming more diverse. I want to help them think about the diversity of human experience.”

Wang recently hosted an online panel discussion where she invited UM-Dearborn faculty award recipients to share what it was like to teach and conduct research as part of a Fulbright program with interested campus community members.

In addition to organizing Fulbright-focused events, Wang also promotes the program by advising students about the variety of Fulbright award opportunities available to them.

Wang said Fulbright applications for student research work and student teaching open in March, but she encourages interested students to reach out to her now to pre-plan their application strategy.

“I ask students, ‘Why do you want to do this? What are the outcomes you are looking for? What culture or country are you interested in? From there, I give them the resources. There are so many opportunities available that I want to help our students narrow it down. Then they decide what they’d like to pursue,” Wang said. “It is a competitive award, but I encourage our students to apply. Once you get a Fulbright, you become a part of a prestigious worldwide community and have access to lifelong connections.”

Through the international award, Wang said Dearborn Wolverines have studied in different areas of the world. Recent graduate Zenon Sommers is currently teaching English in Vienna, Austria through May 2023 on a Fulbright award.

“I’ve been here since October and it’s a wonderful time. I wanted to practice my German, learn new things and experience new cultures — and this award gave me a way to do that,” said Sommers on a video call from Spain. Sommers was traveling to see different parts of Europe during a weeklong semester break.

Wang said there are also four Fulbright award-winning students from across the globe — from Australia, Egypt, Lebanon and Pakistan — who choose to study at UM-Dearborn.

Elie Rizk is one of those students. Rizk, an American University of Beirut computer science graduate who focused on social justice efforts as an undergraduate student, wants artificial intelligence systems and algorithms to be more ethical and equitable, in particular toward people of color and in gender identity.

Rizk said he wanted to study at UM-Dearborn because of its cybersecurity masters program, the prestige of the professors and the Dearborn Artificial Intelligence Research (DAIR) Center.

“I’m grateful that my Fulbright award gave me the opportunity to pursue where my passion lies at a good institution with professors who do research. My home institution didn’t offer any cybersecurity courses, but UM-Dearborn has an entire masters,” he said. “The professors and the program here are giving me the education I was looking for.” 

Rizk said the immersive cultural experience is a learning opportunity too.

“Americans are extraverted and friendly, so I’m learning how to have short conversations. Waiting for public transportation is my time to shine,” he said. “(Waiting for the bus) also gives me the opportunity to practice my English speaking skills. I spoke English in Lebanon, but it was different because we regularly use French and Arabic words with English. I need to filter that out to be more culturally appropriate here. Knowing these things will help me communicate better with people I work or interact with in the future.”

Wang said these cultural exchanges are essential in a globally-connected world. And she will continue to facilitate ways for Dearborn Wolverines to travel abroad and for students in other countries to study at UM-Dearborn through the Fulbright program.

Wang said she is pleased that the U.S. Fulbright Scholars program recognized UM-Dearborn’s engagement at the global level.

“We are known as a metropolitan-focused university that serves our community,” Wang said. “But this recognition also shows that UM-Dearborn has a strong interest in contributing internationally through teaching and research.”

Article by Sarah Tuxbury.