Leeds-Hurwitz, W. (2020). The value of a Fulbright: Internationalizing education one person at a time. In P. K. Turner, S. Bardhan, T. Q. Holden & E. M. Mutua (Eds.), Internationalizing the communication curriculum in an age of globalization (pp. 196-206). New York: Routledge.
Fulbrights have the greatest impact on the person most directly involved, who is given the opportunity to move between countries. But that person has students. And that person has colleagues. So, as it turns out, changing one person at a time works well as a way to internationalize the curriculum.
Over a year ago I requested that scholars who had held Fulbright awards write to me about their experiences. This chapter would not have been possible if so many had not taken the time to send me their stories. Hopefully I have summed up what we all learned in ways that these colleagues will approve, and others will find useful. The short version of the chapter’s advice: if you have not yet applied for a Fulbright, do so! (There are Fulbrights for those based in the USA who wish to live abroad, and for those living elsewhere who wish to spend time in the USA.)
Here is how the book’s editors summarize the entire volume:
“Globalization and the resulting internationalization of universities is driving change in teaching, learning and what it means to be educated. This book provides exemplars of how the communication discipline and curriculum are responding to the demands of globalization and contributing to the internationalization of higher education.
Communication as a discipline provides a strong theoretical and methodological framework for exploring the benefits, challenges and meanings of globalization. The goal of this book, therefore, is to facilitate internationalization of the communication discipline in an era of globalization. Section one discusses the theoretical perspectives of globalism, internationalization, and the current state of the communication discipline and curriculum. Section two offers a comprehensive understanding of the role, ways and impact of internationalizing teaching, learning and research in diverse areas of study in communication, including travel programs and initiatives to bring internationalization to the classroom. The pieces in this section will include research-based articles, case studies, analytical reviews that examine key questions about the field and themed pieces for dialogue/debate on current and future teaching and learning issues related to internationalizing the communication discipline/curriculum. Section three provides an extensive sampling of materials and resources for immediate use in internationalization in communication studies: sample syllabi, activities, examples and readings will be included. In sum, our book is designed to enable communication curriculum and communication courses in other disciplines to be internationalized and to offer different approaches to enable faculty, students and administrators to incorporate and experience an internationalized curriculum regardless of time and financial limitations.”
Dr. Childress previously worked at the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business as the international career consultant, where she taught cross-cultural training seminars for faculty and MBA students, co-chaired the Dean’s International Advisory Board, taught a professional development course, and counseled domestic students on their job search overseas and international students on their job search in the U.S. Dr. Childress also served as Duke University School of Law’s director of special international projects, where she created programs to build bridges between international and U.S. students and developed Duke Law programs overseas, such as the Asia-American Institute of Transnational Law in Kyushu, Japan. Dr. Childress holds degrees from the University of Virginia, Harvard University, and George Washington University.
Center for Intercultural Dialogue 