Ten Syracuse University students/alumni have been named as 2022 recipients of awards through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Four students were also chosen as alternates.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program funds a range of awards that include English teaching assistantships (ETA) and study/research grants in over 140 countries.
The 2022 recipients are:
The 2022 alternates are:
Coleman will pursue a master’s degree in political science on the democracy and elections track at the University of Manchester. For the dissertation component of the program, she plans to conduct research comparing voter identification policies between the U.S. and the U.K. “Manchester is home to the British Election Study (BES), one of the leading centers for polling information in the U.K. so this is an incredible opportunity to be advised by professors affiliated with the BES and work with BES data for my research,” she says.
Coleman’s long-term goal is to pursue a career in election reform advocacy in the U.S. “The U.K. has some really fascinating parallels to the U.S., in terms of both issues with voter suppression and ballot access, as well as movements for democracy reform, so a comparative study between the two countries will give me a lot of insight on how to better approach election reform in the U.S,” Coleman says. “The M.A. program has a heavy quantitative focus, which will help me develop strong policy analysis skills. While in Manchester, I also hope to meet people advocating for democracy reform in the U.K. (there are some groups in Manchester actively pushing for proportional representation in Parliament) and build connections with them to continue collaborating on democracy reform throughout my career.”
Fico will be collaborating with Moroccan researchers and organizations to examine how local knowledge can inform sustainability initiatives that are responsive to the needs of oasis communities in the southeast region of the country.
“Small-scale oasis farmers in Morocco are frequently overlooked in development projects which favor technological solutions and export agriculture over local knowledge and land use practices—a trend I first became frustrated by when working in the region as a Peace Corps volunteer,” she says. “Oasis farmers’ practices of collective water management and resource use have much to offer sustainability efforts in the country as Morocco faces prolonged drought and dwindling water resources, particularly in the southeast region.”
“Through Fulbright, I have the opportunity to study directly with oasis communities and support local work addressing cultural and environmental preservation in Morocco, drawing on my previous research in the region through the geography and the environment master’s program in the Maxwell School,” Fico says.
Neely will arrive in North Macedonia in October to work as an assistant English teacher at a public university for nine months, and will complete a supplementary project involving food access. “As a food studies minor, I am concerned about food waste and interested in improving food access. I admire North Macedonia’s commitment to mitigating food waste and promoting food recovery,” she says.
As an English teaching assistant, Neely will develop her teaching skills and passion for working with youth, supporting students’ learning goals and growing as an instructor. “Participating in the ETA program in North Macedonia and developing my teaching skills will help me work toward my long-term goals of working for a nonprofit or government program with refugee and immigrant youth to involve them in community projects, especially in food access and waste reduction programs,” Neely says. “I value Fulbright’s mission of cultural exchange as a method of education, and am planning a future that will allow me to contribute to this mission throughout my career.”
Poe will be an English teaching assistant in Asturias, Spain. “I am so thrilled about this opportunity because it will allow me to expand my teaching experience as well as my understanding of Spanish language and culture. I’ve had a passion for education ever since I began tutoring with the Literacy Corps, where I tutored elementary-aged students,” she says.
In addition to her interest in the Spanish language, Poe is drawn to Spain for the opportunity to learn about its organic farming and food culture, and hopes to share insights into U.S. food and farming with her students. “In the future, I aim to work in agricultural education, supporting international efforts to create more sustainable food systems through education. Serving as an ETA in Spain will help me build the skills and perspective to meaningfully contribute to that work,” she says.
The Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) will hold an information session on the Fulbright U.S. Student program on Friday, April 29, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in 500 Hall of Languages. Email mlwelsha@syr.edu for more information or to request accommodations.
Students interested in applying to the Fulbright program should contact CFSA at 315.443.2759 or cfsa@syr.edu. The campus deadline for the 2022-23 application cycle is Sept. 13.
