by Claire Miller
College of Education Professor Mark Geil received a grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Specialist Program for a two-week teaching and consulting project at Roehampton University in London, England.
Geil will spend time this month as a guest lecturer for both undergraduate and graduate courses and a consultant on curriculum development.
“Roehampton has a few programs with a strong international presence, and they're looking for a U.S. perspective,” he said. “They also have educational programs in prosthetics and orthotics, my particular area of research expertise. This visit will give me the chance to establish some lasting professional collaborations.”
The Fulbright program offers funding for short-term, two- to six-week projects at host universities in more than 100 countries, according to its website. To be eligible for a grant, faculty members like Geil must first apply to be accepted onto the Fulbright Senior Specialists roster, which makes them available to receive funding. Then, they must work with a school abroad to develop a project proposal for submission to the U.S. Department of State, which gives the final approval.
Geil said the trip presents an opportunity for international exposure, development as a scholar and professor, and a chance to make an impact on scholarship at another university.
“I hope I can contribute in some way to the program at Roehampton, and I hope to learn from their models of education and training,” he said. “There is great value in international collaborators due to the variety of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, so I hope the collaborations I develop will enhance my future efforts in education and research.”
For more information about the Fulbright Specialist Program, visit www.cies.org/specialists.
