UA Professor Wins Fulbright Awards

• August 11th, 2021
• in International Main

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Andrew Raffo Dewar, professor of interdisciplinary arts with The University of Alabama’s New College and School of Music, was recently selected for two grants from

the prestigious Fulbright program to teach and research abroad.

Dewar received a Fulbright Specialist Award and was named the Fulbright Canada Research Chair at York University in Toronto.

“I’m very thankful to have been awarded these two Fulbrights and for the support they signify for my current research,” said Dewar. “Receiving both awards within a one-week period was incredibly surprising and overwhelming, in the best way.”

Through the Fulbright Specialist Program, Dewar received support to visit the Antonio Nariño University in Bogotá, Colombia in June. He gave two public seminars on experimental music and intermedia arts, discussing both the history of those art forms and his own creative research in those fields.

Dewar was also asked to help develop a template for an undergraduate curriculum in the field of ethnomusicology, the study of music and culture, and in collaboration with his counterpart at UAN, Professor Rodrigo Diaz, made audio field recordings and began work on a new research project that will result in a new piece of sound art.

As the Fulbright Canada Research Chair in spring 2022, Dewar will share his research and work with students at York University in Toronto. He will also work in York’s DisPerSion Lab, directed by York Associate Professor Dr. Doug Van Nort, on a new intermedia creative work of sound and light entitled “Volver” (“Return”).

“Volver” combines oral history recordings, archival imagery, spatial audio and generative video to relate the complex stories of the 1930s repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Mexican-Americans to Mexico during the Great Depression. The foundation for the piece is oral histories recorded by Dr. Christine Valenciana in the 1970s that are housed at the Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History at Cal State Fullerton.

“To receive this kind of support at this moment in my career simultaneously feels like an acknowledgement of the decades of work I have already completed, and an invitation to stretch my research into new directions with my future work,” said Dewar.

UA Receives Study Abroad Award to Study Water Access, Quality

• July 2nd, 2021
• in International Main

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama is part of a collaboration to study water access

and quality in Alabama and internationally while supporting study abroad exchange throughout the Americas.

UA, along with Tuskegee University and the Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia, will investigate water quality, access, expansion and cultural diversity in Alabama and Barranquilla, Colombia.

The collaboration was one of 10 that received funding through the 100K Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund competition sponsored by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and Colombian Institute of Educational Loans and Studies Abroad, or ICETEX.

“UA is honored to receive this prestigious grant from the U.S. Department of State that will help further strengthen our partnership between the Universidad del Norte and Tuskegee University,” said Dr. Carolina Robinson, director of Education Abroad at UA. “This grant will allow us to increase regional student mobility between the Americas and provide an innovative research program for our students.”

The universities’ proposal titled “Alabama-Colombia: Water, Access, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Partnership” seeks to prepare students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics, commonly referred to as STEM, to solve global water issues while working in diverse teams. These teams will develop resources to improve access to safe water and sanitation through the comparative study of ecosystems in Alabama’s Black Belt and Colombia’s Cienaga de Mallorquín region.

“Minoritized students are underrepresented and underserved not only in STEM, but also study abroad,” said Robinson. “This project will increase access to international programming through meaningful hands-on learning. Creating diverse student research teams adds value to projects through the development of innovative solutions.”

The 100K Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund is the dynamic public-private sector collaboration among the U.S. Department of State and Partners of the Americas working with companies, foundations and academic networks to champion the power of education to support innovative partnerships and training programs between the U.S. and the rest of the Western Hemisphere. The 100K Fund inspires U.S. universities and colleges to partner with higher education institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean to design and carry out new models of academic training and exchange programs throughout the Americas.

Contact: Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, bryant.welbourne@ua.edu

Alabama-Colombia: Water, Access, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Partnership Wins 100,000 Strong in the Americas (100K) Innovation Fund

• June 3rd, 2021
• in International Main

The 100,000 Strong in the Americas (100K) Innovation Fund at Partners of the Americas and the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State selected the grant proposal submitted by Dr. Carolina Robinson from The University of Alabama,

Dr. Rhonda Collier from Tuskegee University and Dr. Aymer Maturana from Universidad del Norte in Colombia to receive an Innovation Fund award in the USA-Colombia Competition for 21st Century Higher Education Partnerships. The team’s proposal  “Alabama-Colombia: Water, Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene Partnership” will allow students and professors to investigate water quality, access, expansion, and cultural diversity in the state of Alabama and the city of Barranquilla, Colombia. The goal is to prepare students with the technical knowledge and skills to solve global issues while working in diverse teams. To support this mission, four objectives guide the program:

• Implement a joint international research program between Tuskegee, UA, and Uninorte with two international academic visits.
• Recruit students from each institution to participate in the pilot year of the international research program with a focus on historically minoritized students enrolled in the STEM fields
• Students will do a comparison study around the topic of WASH on two identified underserved communities within the State of Alabama and Departamento de Atlántico in Colombia
• Students will demonstrate academic and personal growth in working in cross-cultural teams following their participation in the study abroad program.

UA Professor Named Fulbright Scholar Alumni Ambassador

• May 21st, 2021
• in International Main

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Steven Jones, the James R. Cudworth Professor with The University of Alabama’s Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, was recently named a Fulbright Scholar Alumni Ambassador.

Jones, who conducted research at the Namibia University of Science and Technology in 2019 through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, will serve a two-year term as an alumni ambassador and present information on his Fulbright experience at multiple events on college campuses and academic conferences each year.

“Fulbright is a life changing opportunity,” said Jones. “I am very proud to have been selected as an ambassador where I now have the opportunity to travel around the U.S. and share my experiences and, more importantly, inspire and encourage others to pursue Fulbright fellowships.”

During his time in Namibia, Jones, who also serves as deputy director of the Alabama Transportation Institute, studied the road safety epidemic plaguing Sub-Saharan Africa and how transportation affects the lives of Namibians. His work produced multiple peer-reviewed articles and a chapter in a forthcoming book on transportation in Africa.

“It is particularly rewarding to be in a position to spread the word about Fulbright opportunities within STEM fields, especially engineering, that are not typically as well represented as other academic and professional fields,” said Jones. “I also feel very proud to be a part of all of this now as Fulbright celebrates its 75th anniversary.”

The Fulbright Scholar Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State, supports more than 800 U.S. faculty and professionals each year to teach or conduct research in over 135 countries around the world. The Fulbright award is a prestigious honor that brings distinction to the faculty member and their institution. A key priority for the State Department is to increase the diversity and quality of the scholars who participate in the program and the range of U.S. higher education institutions that are represented overall.

To support this goal, the Institute of International Education launched the Fulbright Scholar Alumni Ambassador Program. Ambassadors not only represent the program externally, but also serve as advisors about critical aspects of the program to the State Department and IIE. Travel and other expenses of the ambassadors are supported through generous private funding raised by trustees and donors of IIE through its Fulbright Legacy Fund.

Contact: Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, bryant.welbourne@ua.edu

75 Years of Fulbrighters

• February 26th, 2021
• in International Main

In 2021, we celebrate the Fulbright Program’s history of positive impact on the lives of individuals as well as on global and local communities. We look forward to the next 75 years of Fulbrighters enriching their educations, advancing their careers, and making meaningful contributions to society.

International Student Welcome Address by Dr. Stuart Bell

• January 28th, 2021
• in International Main

Hello, I’m Stuart Bell, and it’s my privilege to welcome you to campus and to the UA community this semester. Here at the Capstone, you are a valued and important member of our university family. UA students come from all over the world. In fact, there are over 1,400 students from outside the United States representing nearly 80 countries currently studying at the university. Here at Alabama, you’ll have the opportunity to make significant contributions to the university’s research and educational endeavors. Working with our esteemed faculty and your peers, you can foster new discoveries and help advance our mission of transforming lives at our state, the nation, and the world. You have my pledge that we will do all we can to ensure that you have the support and the resources you need to excel. At UA exchange of cultural perspectives and ideas is a valuable asset to our community. Through the diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives on our campus, the educational experiences of all our students are enriched. I encourage you to make connections and to be involved during your time at the university. As the new term begins, I am confident you will find a home away from home at the University of Alabama. You are being prepared for a remarkable future, and we’re so glad you’re here. Have a wonderful semester, and of course, roll tide!

*Videos were recorded pre-pandemic

Unique Upbringing Inspires UA Student’s Life Path

• November 23rd, 2020
• in International Main

At just nineteen years old, Zachary Collins has already experienced some extraordinary opportunities in his life. Born in Cairo, Egypt, the UA sophomore spent much of his childhood in a melting pot of cultures, learning to appreciate the uniqueness of the people around him.

“I was surrounded by a ton of beliefs, ethnicities and learning styles, and that enriched me as a person,” said the Montgomery native, whose parents were teachers at Cairo American College. “I was able to learn from so many different kinds of people, and I learned to value the things that were different in them and in myself.”

His family moved back to Alabama when he was young, but they kept the Egyptian culture alive in their home, celebrating the customs and traditions. They maintained close relationships made while living in Cairo, particularly one to an Egyptian friend who happens to be Collins’ namesake and godfather.

Collins’ deep connection to Egypt helped shape the person he is today. Because of his upbringing, he decided to further explore the language and culture of his birthplace in college.

“My background and where I grew up made me want to be as fluent as possible in the Arabic language and get to know and understand the culture even more,” said Collins, who plans to spend a year studying abroad in an Arabic-speaking country. “One of the main reasons I chose to attend UA was because of the opportunities offered through the Arabic program.”

Being at UA has allowed Collins to put into play other things he’s passionate about, as well, like helping others.

“My dad always says the scripture, ‘to whom much is given, much is required,’” Collins said. “I’ve been blessed in my life to see so many things and have so many opportunities because of my parents. And they taught me to always do my part to put someone else in a position to be successful, too. I believe you should do what you can to leave things better than when you found them.”

When he’s not in class, Collins spends much of his time working with First Year Experience’s Navigators program, where he serves as a navigator to help new students find their way around campus.

He’s also a leader and mentor with UA’s BRIDGE Builders program, which provides first-year men of color the opportunity to build a community at the University, as well as create a vision and action plan for their legacy at UA.

Collins, a finance major and member of the Culverhouse Investment Management Group, hopes to eventually run a real estate investment business. He got a head start on that goal last summer, when he started a company with his dad called Green Door Investment, which uses the strategy of real estate wholesaling to flip houses.

But before fully committing to that long-term plan, upon graduation from UA Collins hopes to put his fluency in the Arabic language and culture to work by joining a company that has a global outlook on business and ties to the Arabic-speaking countries of the Middle East.

By Melissa Parker |  News Center

International Education Week: Virtual Edition (11/16-11/20)

• November 16th, 2020
• in International Main

International Education Week (IEW), November 16-20, is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences. This year’s International Education Week will be hosted virtually. While we won’t be having events in-person like usual, we’ve created opportunities to participate from wherever you are. We encourage the participation of all individuals and groups interested in international education and exchange activities. Does your group have a globally-themed virtual event taking place during IEW? If so, e-mail the Capstone International Center at cic@ua.edu and we will add it to the IEW schedule of events.

Global Cafe Language Partners

• October 9th, 2020
• in International Main

Global Cafe’s Language Partners Program offers International Visitors the opportunity to sign up for Volunteer Conversation Partners who are native English speakers. Language Partners is also an opportunity for American travelers to prepare for their time abroad! If you would like to sign up to be a part of Language Parnters, please visit http://ccbp.ua.edu/language-partners/ or email GlobalCafe@ua.edu

International Student Panel

• October 1st, 2020
• in International Main

Learn what it is like to be an international student at UA from students like you! Join our International Student Panel on Zoom where you can ask international students your questions. RSVP before 8 am on Oct. 8th.