College of Social Sciences and Humanities welcomes delegation from Fulbright Canada

Fulbright Canada President and CEO Michael Hawes

The College of Social Sciences and Humanities is excited to welcome Fulbright Canada President and CEO Michael Hawes and a delegation of Fulbright Arctic Initiative scholars to the University of Alberta.

Hawes and the delegation — which includes scholars from universities in the eight countries belonging to the Arctic Council — are making a special stop in Edmonton to visit the U of A on their way to the Northwest Territories.

The visit, which is being organized by University of Alberta International, takes place on September 19. The delegation will spend the afternoon meeting U of A researchers and taking part in breakout discussion sessions. These sessions will focus on the research areas of Arctic Health, Arctic Infrastructure and Arctic Security.

“It's great to have Fulbright Canada come visit, with the work of the delegation inspiring more faculty to join the Fulbright network of scholars and policymakers,” says Professor Joanna Harrington, Associate Dean Research for the College of Social Sciences and Humanities.

The Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and the United States of America —which administers the Fulbright Program in Canada — is a not-for-profit organization with a mandate “to identify the best and brightest minds in both countries and engage them in residential academic exchange.” First established in 1946 through the efforts of U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright, with the support of the US State Department, the Fulbright Program now operates in over 150 countries.

Faculty members who receive support from the organization are able to conduct research and/or lecture, while student recipients enrol in formal academic programs in the other country. By making these academic exchanges possible, Fulbright Canada aims to increase intellectual capacity and to help shape future leaders. 

"The Canada-US Fulbright program is exceptional,” said Harrington, who is an alumna of Fulbright Canada. “It provides top-quality opportunities for faculty members throughout the social sciences and humanities to further the internationalization and impact of their research. And it provides a term away at a US institution, often opening doors to new research sources and perspectives.”

Over the years, a number of U of A faculty members from the social sciences and humanities have taken part in the Fulbright Canada program. They include:

• Associate Professor Bradley Bucknell, Faculty of Arts
• Professor Emeritus Claude Couture, Campus-St. Jean
• Professor Roxanne Harde, Augustana
• Professor Emeritus Paul Hjartarson, Faculty of Arts
• Professor Joanna Harrington, Faculty of Law
• Distinguished Professor W. Andy Knight, Faculty of Arts
• Professor Jeremy Mouat, Augustana
• Professor Emerita Pamela Sing, Campus-St. Jean
• Professor Emeritus Ian Urquhart, Faculty of Arts