For Immediate Release
Written by: Susan Alderman, 260-481-6165
Media contact: Jenny Weatherford, 260-481-6494
IPFW Grad, Two Professors Receive Fulbright Scholarships
(Fort Wayne, May 6, 2008) -- Three members of the Indiana University—Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) family will be studying abroad for the 2008-09 academic year, thanks to the Fulbright Scholars program. Brandon Gearhart will spend next year in South Korea teaching English and culture to high school students. That is not unusual. What is unusual is that Gearhart is an IPFW student who will graduate this month with a Bachelor of Science in political science with a minor in history, and certificates in international studies, civic education, and public advocacy. He is also the 2007-08 Lugar Student Scholar and spent part of the fall semester in Washington, D.C., as an intern for Indiana Senator Richard Lugar. Most Fulbright Scholarships are awarded to individuals who have already received a Ph.D. or are about to receive one. Gearhart is the first IPFW student to be awarded a Fulbright.
Gearhart said he is most looking forward to "...immersing myself in another culture. I briefly visited Korea in 2007 for a summer study abroad program. I loved every minute of it and I knew I wanted to learn more about the culture and people." He will leave for South Korea this July and return in July 2009. After his return, he plans to pursue his education in either international relations or international law.
James Toole, assistant professor of political science, is one of Gearhart's teachers. "We are very proud of Brandon. We believed from the outset that he would be a strong candidate for a Fulbright. He is smart, responsible, and unusually knowledgeable about world affairs. He'll be a great Fulbright Scholar, and he'll make IPFW proud. We hope that Brandon will be the first of a number of IPFW seniors to win Fulbrights in the years to come."
Amy Nitza, an assistant professor in IPFW's School of Education and assistant director of the counselor education program, will be spending the year at the University of Botswana on the development of a new Center for the Study of HIV and AIDS. She will help build research and outreach capacity in her area of expertise, which is group counseling interventions. "I am most excited about the opportunity to help build this center from the ground up, and to apply my skills and expertise in this new way. I am also confident that I will learn far more than I will contribute, and will be able to bring a whole new set of skills back to my work at IPFW. On a personal level, I am excited for my kids to be able to be immersed in a new culture, which I think will be a very significant experience for them," said Nitza.
James Burg, chair of professional studies and director of the counselor education program, said, "Amy is recognized by leading international scholars as an upcoming author and researcher in the area of group counseling. We're very proud of her achievements and look forward to hearing about her scholarship when she returns in 2009."
Sheena Choi, an associate professor in the School of Education's Foundations of Education program, will spend the upcoming academic year in South Korea. A native of South Korea, Choi has been keeping up with changes in that country. "South Korea is experiencing dynamic changes in areas such as economic, social, cultural, and demography. My study will provide the academic community with information about the context of international migration, demographic changes, new national imagination, and implications for education."
Joe Nichols, chair of educational studies, said, "With this time abroad, Sheena will gain a wealth of information that will benefit both students and faculty on the IPFW campus upon her return. We are pleased with her accomplishments and consider the Fulbright designation a significant honor."
Barry Kanpol, dean of IPFW's School of Education, is pleased that two of the school's faculty have been recognized with Fulbright awards. "In their respective fields, both faculty members shed light on the critical importance of working with diverse groups of people, whether through minority understandings in South Korea (Choi) or Botswana (Nitza). The importance of linking their research findings to the understanding of how local difference is understood will add enormous weight to our collective understanding on diversity issues in Fort Wayne and surrounding areas. They are very important assets to both the School of Education and IPFW."
For more information on the Fulbright Scholars program contact Jenny Weatherford, IPFW Fulbright advisor, at 260-481-6494 or weatherk@ipfw.edu .
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