Greenhouse Scholars celebrates our first-ever Fulbright Fellowship recipients
Greenhouse Scholars congratulates the first Scholars to become Fulbright Fellowship recipients; Mesert, Class of 2011, Michelle, Class of 2016, and Jessica, Class of 2016. The Fulbright is one of the most prestigious awards in the world.
Meseret, Class of 2011, will use her Fulbright Fellowship to research the persistence of STEM education for girls in Ethiopia (the fastest growing country in Africa) as part of her thesis for her PhD in Education. Through the support of Greenhouse Scholars' Flex Funding program, Mesert had the opportunity to do a short-term research project in Ethiopia about healthcare non-governmental organizations. That transformative research experience was her her starting point for further study of Ethiopian health and education systems in her MA program, and now her doctoral study.
Michelle, Class of 2016, is currently residing in her mother's native Poland where she is an English Teaching Assistant for university-level students. Growing up, Michelle was immersed in Polish heritage, language, and culture—a unique contrast to her father's Mexican heritage. She plans to use her experience to help write her thesis, the focus being on nuanced identity and its relationship to community-building, which are subject matters she relates to personally. Michelle's longterm career goal is to become a Professor of Sociology.
Jessica, Class of 2016, the daughter of an Muslim, Afghani father and a Catholic, Venezuelan mother is currently studying Afghan refugees on the border of Tajikistan. Coming from a family of refugees, Jessica saw the negative consequences that war had on her own family's mental health, which shaped her desire to address and change care and treatment for mental health issues.
Founded by Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946, competitively selected American citizens may become eligible for scholarships to study, conduct research, or exercise their talents abroad; and citizens of other countries may qualify to do the same in the United States of America. The program was established to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills.