Gallaudet recognized as a top producer of Fulbright scholars

A specialized e-card was created by the Institute of International Education to help Gallaudet share its success on its recent designation as a top producing institution of Fulbright scholars. The e-card directs readers to a related article in the Chronicle of Higher Education; Gallaudet is listed in a table in an accompanying link of Top Producers of U.S. Fulbright Students by Type of Institution, 2010-11 under the category “Master’s Institutions.” Gallaudet also received this distinction in 2007.

The honor by the Institute of International Education recognizes Gallaudet’s long-standing commitment to the U.S. Student Fulbright Program, which is designed to give master’s and doctoral candidates and recent B.S./B.A. graduates or graduating seniors opportunities for personal development, academic enrichment, and international experience. All three Gallaudet students who applied for Fulbright grants in October 2009 were awarded fellowships to pursue research abroad.

Christina Healy and Page Roberts, who both received master’s degrees in May, were awarded Fulbright scholarships to continue their studies in linguistics. Healy is conducting cross-linguistic research on ASL and Israeli Sign Language through June 2011 at the University of Haifa’s Sign Language Research Lab. Roberts is teaching English and American studies to high school students in Hamburg, Germany for the 2010-2011 school year. Sigridur Johannsdottir, who received her B.A. degree in communication studies this year, was accepted by the Fulbright Program for a project in Italy to videotape interviews with members of the deaf community to learn more about attitudes toward deaf people in the country.

During the 2009-2010 academic year, the Fulbright Program at Gallaudet supported students from Italy, Ireland, and Mexico as well as researchers from Cameroon and Zimbabwe to study at Gallaudet. The program is a unit of the Graduate School and Professional Programs; Dean Carol Erting serves as campus representative, and Dr. Ceil Lucas, Dr. Beth Benedict, Dr. Marilyn Sass-Lehrer, and Dr. Susan King serve as co- coordinators. King also serves as the web master.

“We have been actively involved in bringing students to Gallaudet and in sending our students and faculty abroad on Fulbrights since at least 1986, and this recognition is very gratifying,” said Lucas. “All indications are that everyone benefits: the grantees and the communities in which they spend their time.”
President Hurwitz received a letter of congratulations from Dr. Allan Goodman, president and CEO of the Institute of International Education, calling the distinction of being named a top producer of Fulbrights “an exceptional achievement.” He added, “Thank you for helping to ensure that the Fulbright Program remains the United States’ flagship international educational exchange program.”

The U.S. Department of State issued the following statement from Alina L. Romanowski, deputy assistant secretary for academic programs, regarding top producers of Fulbrights: “On behalf of the U.S. Department of State, congratulations to all of the Fulbright top producing schools this year. Both President Obama and Secretary Clinton have made clear that international educational exchange is a critical element of the U.S. international engagement and the Fulbright Program is consistent with this ‘smart power’ approach. Securing a place as a Fulbright top producing school is a testament to the quality of the applications a school’s students and faculty submit, and to the efforts of its Fulbright Program Adviser/Fulbright Campus Representative to emphasize the legacy and importance of a Fulbright experience.”