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Fulbright Semi-Finalists Announced

Congratulations to Megan E. Miller ’20 and Caroline Russell ’18, who have received “recommended” or “semi-finalist” status in the Fulbright Award process.

Named for J. William Fulbright, the scholarship is the U.S Government’s premier scholarship program. It is designed to foster mutual understanding among nations through educational and cultural exchanges, which provide recipients with tuition, fees, travel and research funds for a full year.

“A ‘recommended’ status (sometimes called a ‘semi-finalist’) means that the applicant has been recommended for a Fulbright award by the Fulbright National Screening Committee,” said Christopher R. Lee, PhD, associate professor of religious studies and theology and director of the Graduate Scholarship Office. “From there, the applications are forwarded to the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in the host country for final review.  The National Screening Committee usually recommends more than 100 percent of the available awards, to allow for alternates.”  Final decisions are expected in April 2020.

Lee served as a mentor to Miller and Russell during the application process. “It’s an amazing achievement to be recommended as Fulbright awardees,” he said. “They worked so hard.  These two are wonderful examples of what our students can achieve at Canisius.”

Excerpts from Megan Miller’s proposal (Cambodia):

In Cambodia, working with Oliver Griffin of the Wildlife Conservation Society, I will be conducting a behavioral study of southern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons (Nomascus gabriellae) through activity budget analyses at the Jahoo Gibbon Camp located in Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. In conjunction with these behavioral analyses, I will also travel to villages to learn more about cultural beliefs of the Bunong people who live throughout the Mondulkiri Highlands to construct a more holistic understanding of the role that gibbons play in society.

Beginning in October of 2020 and concluding in August of 2021, I will be actively tracking the troops on foot and collecting data for a minimum of 16-20 days per month. This extensive process will allow for data sufficient for activity budget analyses: collections of behaviors that individuals and troops perform. The extended timeline of data collection will allow me to obtain an accurate and encompassing understanding of behavior through troop and environmental changes.

Excerpts from Caroline Russell’s proposal (Poland):

At the time of my placement in Poland, I will hold both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Special Education. Additionally, I will have two years of experience working in a special education day school, on top of hundreds of hours spent interning in various classrooms. Not only will my understanding of pedagogy prove invaluable should I be granted the Fulbright, but I have also spent 14 weeks immersed in Poland’s culture. The past three summers I have volunteered at a summer camp in southern Poland. The children who attend this camp are either orphans or are in the foster care system. While there, one of my responsibilities was to facilitate English language learning through formal daily lessons.

While in Poland, I want to continue to work with children by seeking out an orphanage or foster care organization. I believe working with two vastly different parts of the social services system in Poland will allow me to learn about the culture in ways a book could never provide. I would also like to connect my university students with the children.

After the Fulbright, I plan to return to the classroom with a newfound understanding of Poland and European relations and history. I will teach my students that America is simply one country in a much larger global fabric. Through this, I will instill in them a passion for learning and a curiosity for the world around them.

Submitted by: College Communications

Campus Conversation on Movement to Restore Trust

 

Join us today, Wednesday, March 4 from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. in Loyola Hall’s Great Room, as the Office of Mission & Identity welcomes Maureen Hurley and Nancy Ware to discuss their article “A Movement to Restore Trust in Buffalo, NY,” found in the current issue of Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education Magazine, pp. 8-9.  We will explore the origins, activities and future of the Movement to Restore Trust initiative in the context of the sex abuse crisis and its cover up in Western New York Catholicism.

Refreshments will be provided.  If you plan to attend, please notify Rev. Patrick J. Lynch, SJ, at lynchp@canisius.edu.

Submitted by: Rev. Patrick Lynch, S.J., Jesuit Associate for Mission & Identity; professor emeritus, Religious Studies & Theology

Lenten Reflections

Join us in Loyola Hall’s Great Room on Thursday, March 5 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. to reflect on the meaning of Lent with colleagues.  President Hurley will introduce a prayer text from Matthew 7: 7-12 that is about Jesus’ promise to answer our prayers.  See the flyer above for other dates and presenters during the Lenten season. If you wish to attend, please RSVP to Rev. Patrick J. Lynch, SJ, at lynchp@canisius.edu, by 12:00 p.m. the day prior to the session that you wish to attend.

Submitted by: Rev. Patrick Lynch, S.J., Jesuit Associate for Mission & Identity; professor emeritus, Religious Studies & Theology

Spring Break Writing Retreat

Kick off your spring break productivity with the Writing Center!

On March 16 and 17 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., the Office of Academic Affairs and the Writing Center will co-host a two-day writing retreat in the Writing Center. Coffee, light breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided. Come one or both days!

Click here to RSVP by March 9.

Submitted by: Jennifer Lodi-Smith, PhD, interim assistant vice president, Academic Affairs

Secrets of Publishing Guest Speaker

Canisius will host Michael McGandy from Cornell University Press on Monday, March 9 at 4:00 p.m. in the Grupp Fireside Lounge.  McGandy published a book authored by Tom Chambers, dean of Arts & Sciences, titled Memories of War: Visiting Battlegrounds and Bonefields in the Early American Republic.

McGandy will speak with Canisius faculty about their book projects. He will also participate in a panel discussion, “Secrets of Publishing,” with Dean Chambers and other Canisius faculty authors. Wine, beer, and light snacks will be provided. Please click here to RSVP if you plan to attend this discussion.

For faculty interested in meeting with Michael McGandy one-on-one, please sign up for a meeting here.

Click here to add this event to your calendar.

Submitted by: Jennifer Lodi-Smith, PhD, interim assistant vice president, Academic Affairs