Spring Break
MU anthropology prof receives Fulbright grant
Jane Frye
Issue date: 11/10/06 Section: Campus
Susan Paulson, a Miami University associate professor of anthropology and Latin American studies program director, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant, however she could not celebrate in Oxford - she is already in Panama, teaching at a university.
The grant will help fund Paulson's research at City of Knowledge in Panama City, Panama and help her to continue teaching at University of Panama, where she has been since August.
The focus of Paulson's efforts in Panama City is "Culture, Gender and Women's Empowerment in Comparative Latin American Contexts." City of Knowledge, where Paulson is working, is an international complex for education, research and innovation, which was developed to promote
cooperation among universities, scientific research centers, businesses and international organizations alike.
But the university experience in Panama is a little different from that of Miami, according to Paulson.
"Conditions are very difficult," Paulson said, via e-mail. "For example, there are basically no books available and we teach with photocopies. But the students and teachers are incredibly motivated and eager to learn."
Paulson's main goal for the Fulbright grant is to research and teach in a new part of Latin America.
"After working for two decades in Andean nations and Brazil, I planned to expand my horizons to the Central America/Caribbean region by interacting with colleagues and students at the University of Panama and participating in field research in Panamanian contexts," Paulson said.
Receiving the grant was exciting for Paulson because she lived in South America with her family before moving to Oxford and was looking forward to traveling abroad. Paulson is married and has two children: Nick, 16, and Carlos, 14.
"One advantage of Fulbright in relation to other academic grants is that Fulbright provides support and visas for the recipient's family," Paulson said.
Her husband, Mark, in on leave from his job at Talawanda High School and is teaching at an international school that both Nick and Carlos attend. The family has taken well to the country and involved themselves in the culture by learning Spanish and participating in native Panamanian sports.
The grant will help fund Paulson's research at City of Knowledge in Panama City, Panama and help her to continue teaching at University of Panama, where she has been since August.
The focus of Paulson's efforts in Panama City is "Culture, Gender and Women's Empowerment in Comparative Latin American Contexts." City of Knowledge, where Paulson is working, is an international complex for education, research and innovation, which was developed to promote
cooperation among universities, scientific research centers, businesses and international organizations alike.
But the university experience in Panama is a little different from that of Miami, according to Paulson.
"Conditions are very difficult," Paulson said, via e-mail. "For example, there are basically no books available and we teach with photocopies. But the students and teachers are incredibly motivated and eager to learn."
Paulson's main goal for the Fulbright grant is to research and teach in a new part of Latin America.
"After working for two decades in Andean nations and Brazil, I planned to expand my horizons to the Central America/Caribbean region by interacting with colleagues and students at the University of Panama and participating in field research in Panamanian contexts," Paulson said.
Receiving the grant was exciting for Paulson because she lived in South America with her family before moving to Oxford and was looking forward to traveling abroad. Paulson is married and has two children: Nick, 16, and Carlos, 14.
"One advantage of Fulbright in relation to other academic grants is that Fulbright provides support and visas for the recipient's family," Paulson said.
Her husband, Mark, in on leave from his job at Talawanda High School and is teaching at an international school that both Nick and Carlos attend. The family has taken well to the country and involved themselves in the culture by learning Spanish and participating in native Panamanian sports.
