Tag Archives: fulbright scholar

WMU student Fulbrights named

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment
by Deanne Puca

Three Western Michigan University graduate students have the opportunity to continue their studies and research in Spain as recipients of Fulbright scholarship awards.

Alicia Acosta, a recent graduate in Spanish secondary education, and Patrick Harris and David Terry, both doctoral students in medieval history, received the grants for the 2012-13 academic year.

A native of Marshall, Mich., Acosta, was raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and has lived in five countries. She earned a bachelor’s degree from WMU in secondary education and is pursuing her master’s degree. She plans to use her Fulbright award to travel to Spain as an English teaching assistant.

Harris of Harrison, Mich., will travel to Toledo, Spain, to undertake archival work for a project titled, “The Latinization of the Mozarab Community in Toledo.” He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Oakland University, a master’s degree in Eastern Classics from St. John’s College and a master’s degree in history from Eastern Illinois University.

Terry, of San Marcos, Calif., will travel to Barcelona, Spain, and conduct archival research for his project titled, “Merchant, Pirate Crusader: Identity and Cultural Interaction on the Medieval Mediterranean.” He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of North Dakota.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” The program has provided almost 300,000 participants–chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential–with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Established in 1946, it is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.

Department of History

More Fulbright information

Alicia Acosta’s thoughts on the award

 

Posted in Learner Centered, Student Spotlight

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Professor visiting scholar in Finland

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

Dr. Charles Henderson returns from serving as a visiting scholar at Finland's University of Jyväskylä.

By Helena Witzke

Dr. Charles Henderson, associate professor of physics, has just returned from Finland, where he was a visiting scholar at the University of Jyväskylä from March 12-15.

Henderson, who has a joint appointment with the Department of Physics and the Mallinson Institute for Science Education, focuses his research on understanding and promoting the spread of research-based teaching strategies in college-level STEM instruction (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

This is not Henderson’s first time at the University of Jyväskylä. In the spring of 2010, he received a Fulbright position to study at the University, hosted by the Finnish Institute for Educational Research. There, he expanded on his current research related to instructional reform in higher education, and also collaborated with faculty and graduate students in U.J.’s Department of Teacher Education.

Because of his previous work there, Henderson was asked to return by the leaders of U.J.’s Research-based Interactive Teaching and Learning Project, which seeks to develop interactive teaching methods within of its academic departments.

While there, Henderson gave a public lecture titled “Promoting and Supporting Pedagogical Change in Higher Education.” He also consulted with teams from each participating academic department, discussing with them the project’s goals, methods, and vision.

“It is amazing that, given the many differences in the higher education systems between Finland and the U.S., that the basic problems of creating changes in teaching practices are remarkably similar,” Henderson says of his experiences. “Being able to study these problems and solutions from different cultural perspectives allows researchers like myself to be able to better separate the core issues from the contextual or cultural issues.”

A widely published researcher, Henderson is currently the Physics Education Research Editor for the American Journal of Physics and a member of the National Research Council Committee on Undergraduate Physics Education Research and Implementation.

 

Links:
Dr. Henderson’s homepage
University of Jyväskylä
Read more about Henderson’s research field: Association of American Universities

Posted in Discovery Driven, Globally Engaged

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,