A doctoral student in political science and international relations is one of two University of Delaware students selected as recipients of 2021 Fulbright U.S. Student Program
awards, which allow young graduates and graduate students the
opportunity to conduct research, study or teach English in more than 140
countries.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Program is
the nation’s premier international education exchange program, designed
to foster mutual understanding between United States citizens and people
of other countries.
The University of Delaware is recognized as a
Fulbright Top Producing Institution, with staff from UD’s Honors College
and Center for Global Programs and Services (CGPS) providing Fulbright
outreach and support to members of the University community.
Kathrin Reed
Kathrin Reed, who earned her master's degree from UD in 2019 and is
now a doctoral candidate in political science and international
relations, has been awarded a Fulbright Research Grant to go to
Cambodia. Reed said her field research in Phnom Penh will “enhance our
limited knowledge both on Cambodian foreign policy and the international
relations of mainland Southeast Asia through understanding bilateral
conflict management between Cambodia and its larger neighbors.”
Having moved to the U.S. at age 13, Reed is an American-German dual
citizen who has lived and traveled the world and is motivated by
experiences navigating cultural and political differences. Reed worked
on projects related to security sector governance and peacebuilding in
Southeast Asia at the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance in
Switzerland for four years, with six months based in Cambodia
coordinating with local partners on Cambodian and regional projects.
Reed said she forged invaluable personal connections in Cambodia and
is incredibly grateful for the opportunity provided by the Fulbright
grant to return. She will be affiliated with the Center for Khmer
Studies as a Dissertation Research Fellow. “I am especially excited to
learn from Cambodian researchers and students and to improve my Khmer
language skills,” Reed said.
Shay Lukas
Shay Lukas, who graduated in spring 2021 with an honors degree in
medical diagnostics with a pre-physicians assistant concentration and a
minor in disability studies, was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching
Assistantship to Taiwan.
Lukas said that her volunteer and teaching work during her years as
an undergraduate student at UD helped make her a competitive applicant
for the prestigious award. She gained important teaching skills and
classroom experience as a UD chemistry study session leader, sometimes
teaching up to 100 students at a time.
Lukas has volunteered for the past three years as a student leader at
Lori’s Hands, a service-learning organization that pairs student
volunteers with older adults in the community. She serves as the 2021
President of the Lori's Hands chapter at UD.
For Future Fulbrighters
For future applicants, Reed advised that “it is important to
demonstrate a strong commitment to studying and teaching others about
the country and region that will extend beyond the Fulbright
experience.” She said her personal connections from previously working
abroad and her experience with the Young African Leadership Initiative
and National Security Policy-making Institute — both UD partnerships
with the State Department — made her a competitive candidate for the
award.
Lukas was enthusiastic about the support she received during the
application process, both from CGPS and the Honors College, as well as
from many faculty and advisers. Starting the application process early
and leaving plenty of time for writing and research was crucial. She
said, “It is important that you are passionate about the country, and
that you have prepared by researching aspects of the culture, education,
political climate, etc., while also being open to learning more.”
Interested students and alumni are encouraged to contact UD Fulbright Program Adviser Kelsey Cummings at kelseyrc@udel.edu and fill out this interest form.
Current students or graduates from UD who are interested in applying in
the 2021 cycle, are required to meet a mandatory essay draft deadline
of July 15, 2021, using this form for submission of essay drafts. See UD’s Fulbright website for more details.
Center for Global Programs and Services
The Center for Global Programs and Services (CGPS) at the University of Delaware is home to the operations of UD Global, which includes Study Abroad, International Student and Scholar Services, World Scholars Program and Global Outreach and Partnerships.
The center is committed to providing leadership and innovation in
support of the University's global initiative and campus
internationalization efforts. Focused on a student-centered approach,
CGPS provides expert advising and a wealth of global engagement
opportunities to the UD campus community, including the weekly International Coffee Hour in the fall and spring semesters.
Article by Stephanie Ferrell; photo courtesy of Kathrin Reed
Published June 11, 2021
