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Fulbright Newsletter_June 2012
1. Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission
NEWSLETTER
Bucharest, June 30, 2012
Volume V, Issue 2
Commission News
Graduate and Undergraduate
Table of Contents
► From Romanian Fulbrighters
Commission News
Article by Romanian Fulbrighter Cristiana Grigore
New Executive Director at the Romanian-U.S. in New York Times
Fulbright Commission
Articles on Theatre & Performing Arts by Fulbright
Alumni
Now Open: Fulbright Senior Postdoctoral
Award 2013-2014 News from Romanian Fulbright Alumna Monica
Stancu
Now Open: Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship
2013 Graduate and Undergraduate
What comes after successful U.S. admissions?
Follow us on Twitter! Pre-Departure Orientation in July
EducationUSA Romania Advising Expertise at the
Fulbright Roundtable at the International Con-
OACAC Conference
gress on Romanian Studies
Who’s Going Where? Full Admissions Success for
East-West Cultural Passage Conference 2012 Romanians this Year
FEAC as U.S. Admissions Hub and Maximizer
Flag Day: Celebrating U.S. Culture and Study
Innovative Outreach by FEAC in Response to New
at the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence
High School Curriculum
Fulbright Student Award Competition: Notes Article by FEAC in “International Student Guide”
on a Promotion Campaign Visit Over 100 Campuses with FEAC
Ivy League Highlights as Giving Back: A Roma-
► From U.S. Fulbrighters nian Success Story at University of Pennsylvania
“International Social Work: Working Together Dynamic Promotion of U.S. Study to Fresh Audi-
for Success” Conference ences: “International Study Day” in Five Cities
Beyond Intl Study Day: High School and Univer-
U.S. Fulbright Scholar at Cluj Conference on sity Students Discover U.S. Study
Globalization MBA Programs in the USA, with Funding: Online
Session with Willamette University
Book Launch: TIMELESS AND TRANSITORY -
FEAC in Cluj: Promotion of the Fulbright Program
Volume by U.S. Fulbright Alumnus Ernest
with Peace Corps Volunteers and More
Latham
New Member in the FEAC Team
http://www.facebook.com/
https://twitter.com/FulbrightRO Romanian.US.Fulbright.Commission www.fulbright.ro
2. Bucharest, June 30, 2012
Volume V, Issue 2
Commission News
New Executive Director at the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission
Rodica Mihăilă, Ph.D., Fulbright alumna and founder of the American
Studies undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of
Bucharest, is the new Executive Director of the Romanian-U.S. Ful-
bright Commission.
Rodica Mihăilă is Professor Emerita of Literature and American Studies
and her main areas of research and teaching range from 20th Century
and contemporary American literature to American Studies theory and
practice, cultural theory, methodology of cultural studies and Roma-
nian/East European cultures in transatlantic perspective.
She is also a translator of English and American literature and Found-
ing President of the Romanian Association for American Studies. More
details here.
Now Open: Fulbright Senior Postdoctoral Award 2013-2014
The Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission announces the annual competition for Ful-
bright Senior Postdoctoral Awards for Romanian professors, researchers and profession-
als who have a doctoral degree or equivalent (certified). Grants are available for con-
ducting research and/or lecturing in the U.S. universities. The Romanian applicants are
invited to submit applications no later than November 5, 2012. Click here for details
Now Open: Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship 2013
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship is a very generous program for mid-career professionals who have a
proven track record of leadership, a public service commitment, and the capacity to take full advantage
of a self-defined program of independent non degree study. The Romanian applicants are invited to sub-
mit applications no later than August 27, 2012. Click here for details.
Follow us on Twitter!
The Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission is now on Twitter. Follow us for the latest Ful-
bright news, including scholarship announcements, educational and cultural events, up-
dates from alumni & more! https://twitter.com/FulbrightRO
Fulbright Roundtable at the International Congress on Romanian Studies - July 2nd
On July 2-4, 2012, the Society for Romanian Studies (SRS) is organizing the
2012 International Congress on Romanian Studies at Lucian Blaga University,
Sibiu. The theme of the congress is “Europeanization and Globalization: Romani-
ans in Their Region and the World.”
With this occasion, the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission is organizing a
panel of discussion regarding the Fulbright program and the impact of the aca-
demic and cultural exchanges between the two countries. The roundtable will be
entitled “Romanian-American Academic and Scholarly Exchanges: Past Experi-
ences, Future Prospects” and is scheduled on Monday, July 2nd, from 2:30 to
4:30 p.m. U.S. Fulbright alumnus Paul Sum, who is also a member of the na-
tional board of SRS, agreed to be the moderator of the roundtable. The partici-
pants are: Rodica Mihăilă, Executive Director at the Fulbright Commission, Ro-
manian alumni Victor Neumann, Olesia Mihai, Silvia Florea, and U.S. Fulbright
alumni Nicholas Sveholm, Paul Michelson , Jonathan Stillo. More details and pic-
tures will be available on our website.
2 www.fulbright.ro
3. Bucharest, June 30, 2012
Volume V, Issue 2
Commission News
East-West Cultural Passage Conference 2012
The 2012 edition of the “East-West Cultural Passage Confer-
ence: Literature and Music” organized by the Lucian Blaga Uni-
versity, Sibiu, Romania, Faculty of Letters and Arts and Roe-
hampton University, London, UK, Department of English and
Creative Writing in association with the Romanian-U.S. Ful-
bright Commission took place in Sibiu on May 10-12, 2012. Ro-
manian and U.S. Fulbright alumni and grantees participated in
different panels of the conference.
Besides the scientific value, the conference was also an opportu-
nity for the American Fulbrighters to meet as a group before fin-
ishing their scholarship and leaving Romania. Let us use this op-
portunity to say a warm THANK YOU, DEAR FRIENDS! to all American Fulbrighters who are finishing
their Romanian grant and will be leaving soon. We will be missing you, we expect news from you, from
time to time, and hope in future collaborations.
Flag Day: Celebrating U.S. Culture and Study at the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence
On June 14, festivity filled the air as the Public Diplomacy section of
the U.S. Embassy brought together over 250 students and English
teachers from five Bucharest high schools. The participants cele-
brated Flag Day through colourful projects on the 50 U.S. states.
Honoring a cherished tradition, the Fulbright Commission took part
in the event with an educational booth staffed by FEAC advisers and
interns. We had with us students who had enjoyed the full range of
FEAC services and who got admitted and funded by Middlebury Col-
lege in Vermont, MIT, Princeton University, Grinnell College in Iowa,
and Harvard University. Throughout the three hour event, the FEAC
team interacted with the participants and introduced them to the
study and funding opportunities U.S. campuses offer to top international students. Pictures at http://
on.fb.me/FEACPics.
Fulbright Student Award Competition: Notes on a Promotion Campaign
March and April proved full and productive, in terms of Fulbright
Student Award promotion. In early March, the Academy of Eco-
nomic Sciences in Bucharest hosted the first presentation on the
Fulbright Student Awards. Another presentation, this time together
with the Center of International Cooperation of Babes Bolyai Uni-
versity, took place in Cluj on March 22. The audience enjoyed the
presence of three Senior Fulbright Alumni: Dr. Mircea Maniu, Dr.
Levente Salat and Dr. Radu Catana, who shared their experience
as Visiting Scholars in the U.S. On April 4 the Fulbright Student
Awards were promoted to students of Politehnica University in Bu-
charest. Professors Mihaela Albu and Stefan Trausan Matu assisted
with organizing the event. Drs. Dragulanescu and Ghenghea were
also present to share their Fulbright knowledge with the UPB students. On April 10, the Student Award
presentation was hosted by the University of Bucharest. Last but not least, a seminar dedicated to writ-
ing the Student application took place at our premises on Wednesday, April 11. Our special guests, Pro-
fessor Mohsen Razzaghi, Fulbright Scholar and Corina Ileana Popa, Fulbright Alumna, whom we would
like to thank, offered their help and guidance. Also, a webinar for applicants in the Student Award com-
petition took place on April 27.
3 www.fulbright.ro
4. Bucharest, June 30, 2012
Volume V, Issue 2
Commission News
► FROM U.S. FULBRIGHTERS
“International Social Work: Working Together for Success” Conference
On May 24 – 25, 2012 the University of Petrosani, Romania, Faculty
of Sciences, Socio-Human Department, Social Work Specialization
in partnership with the University of South Carolina College of So-
cial Work and the Eastern European Sub Regional Association of
Schools of Social Work hosted an international conference entitled
“International Social Work: Working Together for Success.”
The event was organized with the help of U.S. Fulbright researcher
Karla Buru who also held the opening remarks and conducted a
workshop on Public Health in Romania. Jennifer Feenstra, U.S. Ful-
bright scholar and associate professor at Northwestern College,
Iowa was a keynote speaker and held a lecture on Volunteerism
Worldwide. Also, U.S. Fulbrighters Katelyn Browher and Jessica Miller participated in the event.
The conference featured lectures, workshops, visits to local non-governmental organizations and a cul-
tural evening including traditional Romanian costumes and music. More details are available in the con-
ference report written by U.S. Fulbright grantee Karla Buru. Please click here to read it.
U.S. Fulbright Scholar at Cluj Conference on Globalization
U.S. Fulbright Scholar Paul Hamill, of Lucian Blaga University in Sibiu, participated in
panel discussions of the conference on “Globalization in a Post-Crisis World,” held at
Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, on May 30-31. Dr. Hamill spoke initially on
the U.S. history of globalization; later panel topics included “Has the Centre of the
World shifted due to Globalization?” and “Does Globalization have to lead to greater
inequality within nations?” The conference was hosted and organized by Prof. Vasile
Puscas of Babes-Bolyai along with Ms. Josephine Chesterton, an Oxfam board mem-
ber formerly with Chase Manhattan Bank in Hong Kong. Presenters included the cur-
rent British Ambassador to Romania, H.E. Martin Harris, former British Ambassador
to Brazil Dr. Peter Collecott, current Governor of the National Bank of Romania Mr.
Mugur Isarescu, former British Ambassador to Russia Sir Anthony Brenton, former
British High Commissioner in India and Ambassador to Germany Sir Michael Arthur,
Mr. Patrick Docherty, an international banking expert formerly with Chase, UBS, and
KPMG in Singapore and Vice Rector Mihaila Lutas of Babes-Bolyai. Former Fulbright Fellows who spoke
included Prof Puscas, Dr. Ioan Aurel-Pop, Rector of Babes-Bolyai, Mr. Patrick Cocherty and Dr. Oana
Popa, former Fulbright Executive Director and former Ambassador to Croatia, currently engaged in re-
search at Babes-Bolyai University.
Book Launch: TIMELESS AND TRANSITORY - Volume by U.S. Fulbright Alumnus Ernest Latham
On June 2, Ernest Latham's volume entitled TIMELESS AND TRANSITORY. 20th Century
Relations Between Romania and the English-Speaking World was launched at Bookfest
International Bookfair. TIMELESS AND TRANSITORY is a collection of essays on Roma-
nia in an international context, highlighting historical characters who, with the help of
this talented historian and his exquisite art of the portrait, have the power to illustrate
the much broader social and political phenomena of the 20th century. The preface of
the volume is signed by Professor Paul Michelson, a three-time Fulbright fellow in Ro-
mania (1971-1973, 1982-1983, 1989-1990).
Ernest Latham is an American historian and diplomat who served as the American cul-
tural attaché in Romania between 1983 and 1987. In 2000-2002 he was a Fulbright
Professor and he is the author of numerous articles and reviews about Romania. At the
present time he is the coordinator of advanced area studies for Romania and Moldova
at the Foreign Service Institute (U.S. Department of State).
4 www.fulbright.ro
5. Bucharest, June 30, 2012
Volume V, Issue 2
Commission News
► FROM ROMANIAN FULBRIGHTERS
Article by Romanian Fulbrighter Cristiana Grigore in New York Times
A new article by Romanian Fulbright alumna Cristiana Grigore was published in
the New York Times. In the article entitled “The Gypsy in me”, Cristiana talks
about her Roma identity and the transformation from denying her origins to
embracing them. The article was also published in the International Herald
Tribune Global Agenda magazine. Cristiana was a Fulbright grantee in 2009-
2010, at Vanderbilt University, Peabody College of Education & Human Devel-
opment.
Read the entire story by following the link below:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/opinion/global-agenda-magazine-the-gypsy-in-me.html?
_r=2&pagewanted=1
Articles on Theatre & Performing Arts by Fulbright Alumni
The most recent issue of Scena.ro, a Romanian theatre & performing arts
magazine, includes a series of articles written by three Fulbright Alumni:
Cristina Modreanu, who is also the editor-in-chief of the magazine, Saviana
Stanescu and Theodor Cristian Popescu. The articles are diverse, covering
themes like “Resistance through Theatre” – an article written by Cristina
Modreanu after visiting the Under the Radar festival held in New York,
“Death on Broadway” – article by Romanian Fulbrighter Saviana Stanescu
about the invasion of the Broadway season with plays dealing with death,
“Rethinking the critical stance” – article by Theodor-Cristian Popescu which
analyzes the difficult relation of contemporary Romanian theatre with the
surrounding reality. For more details about the magazine, please visit http://
www.revistascena.ro/.
News from Romanian Fulbright Alumna Monica Stancu
"I am glad to announce that this spring I got a chance to share my
work at three universities in the US. On March 23, 2012 I have pre-
sented a paper at a history conference at Syracuse University, NY
where I talked about the research I conducted on Romanian immi-
grants.
Two of my other papers were chosen for the Gender and Sexuality
Graduate Colloquium at Princeton University and the Graduate Student
Conference on World Historical Social Science at Binghamton Univer-
sity, NY. These two papers were based on my MA thesis on Roma
women’s activist movement in post-communist Romania. This spring, I also conducted a workshop on
discrimination in Romania at the School for Excellence, a high school in Bronx, NY. I am so grateful to
the Fulbright Commission and all the professors that guided me at Sarah Lawrence College and Colum-
bia University! This would not have happened without their support!"
Monica Stancu was a Fulbright Student grantee in 2009-2010, at Sarah Lawrence College, NY. She is
currently conducting research in the area of Women Studies as an international visiting scholar at Co-
lumbia University.
5 www.fulbright.ro
6. Bucharest, June 30, 2012
Volume V, Issue 2
Graduate and Undergraduate
► Upcoming Events
What comes after successful U.S. admissions? Pre-Departure Orien-
tation in July
Every summer, the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission and FEAC organize
the Pre-Departure orientation, a full-day event meant to facilitate the admit-
ted students’ academic and cultural adjustment on a U.S./U.S.-like campus.
The event will be topped off with networking opportunities and fun. Current
Romanian students and alumni of U.S. universities will grace the event.
EducationUSA Romania Advising Expertise at the OACAC Conference
The session initiated by the Fulbright Educational Advising Center “Attracting
the Stars of Eastern Europe to U.S. Campuses” will be offered at the OACAC
Annual Conference bringing together experts on undergraduate advising and
admissions to University of Denver, CO. The FEAC session, co-presented
with the admissions director at Wellesley College, is one of the 62 sessions
accepted out of a total of 117 submissions. As such, the advising center in
Bucharest will represent EducationUSA Europe at the event with funding offered by EducationUSA.
► Past Events
Who’s Going Where? Full Admissions Success for Romanians this Year
This summer, FEAC will be “traveling” alongside the students we worked with over the past year to-
wards their successful applications to a variety of campuses in the U.S. – Yale, Princeton, Harvard, MIT,
Duke, Boston U, Middlebury, Wellesley, Sarah Lawrence, Rochester, Worchester Polytechnic Institute,
Babson, Bryn Mawr, Loyola Marymount, Wellesley, etc. - as well as to U.S.-like campuses – Jacobs,
modeled on Rice University in Texas, and the European Liberal Arts College - Bard College.
FEAC as U.S. Admissions Hub and Maximizer
With all the tight economic circumstances both in the US and Romania, FEAC has
been able to maintain and even increase the enrollment rate. In FY 2011 FEAC had
15 undergrad students and 5 grad students in the US, while this year we have 20
undergrads, with chances to increase to 22, and 5 grads. In numbers, this year we
have $1.2 million in financial aid and $210,000 in personal contributions. A signifi-
cant increase reflecting the additional support services developed by FEAC. The
grants awarded to FEAC by the US Embassy and EducationUSA made it possible for FEAC to diversify
and solidify its guidance and support services and to conduct comprehensive outreach campaigns.
Innovative Outreach by FEAC in Response to New High School Curriculum: “School the Other
Way” in April
Over April 2-6, U.S. study was prominent during the “School The Other Way” week included in the high
school curriculum starting this year. In addition to a pilot “International Study Day” at “Lazar” National
College, FEAC organized and hosted students from “Lovinescu” and “Cuza” high schools in Bucharest,
who visited the Advising Center.
Article by FEAC in “International Student Guide”
Building on FEAC’s success record and advising expertise, this year FEAC contributed to
“International Student Guide to the United States of America” (Spindle Publishing Company)
an article on financial aid opportunities for international students in the U.S. The guide is an
annual publication directed at international students who wish to pursue their higher educa-
tion in the United States. Read the piece at http://bit.ly/FEACarticle and visit FEAC for the
new edition of the “Int’l Study Guide” which comes out in July!
FEAC Initiative: Visit Over 100 Campuses with FEAC
Visit FEAC to access the latest version of our “College Profiles”! The “College Profiles” col-
lection includes around 100 one-page snapshots of different colleges, universities, and in-
stitutes across the U.S., The profiles highlight schools in the same range, the university
culture as reflected in the motto, mission/vision, values, etc., admissions and financial aid
statistics, average SAT and TOEFL scores, most popular majors offered, etc.
6 www.fulbright.ro
7. Bucharest, June 30, 2012
Volume V, Issue 2
Graduate and Undergraduate
Ivy League Highlights as Giving Back: A Romanian Success Story at University
of Pennsylvania
The five-week Undergraduate Admissions Training offered by FEAC over May 22-June 19
was topped of by an enrichment session on June 26. Alexandra, FEAC friend and rising
sophomore at UPenn, helped participants get ready for the admissions season with her
inspiring U.S. stories. Our former advisee shared her academic and cultural experience
on a top campus ranking 5th in this year’s U.S. News & World Report. She also offered
tips on how to win the heart of the admissions committee.
Dynamic Promotion of U.S. Study to Fresh Audiences: “International Study Day” in Five Cities
FEAC together with Campus France, DAAD, and British Council partnered up to set
up a comprehensive joint outreach program meant to introduce high school and col-
lege students outside Bucharest to the benefits and opportunities of the educational
systems in the USA, France, and Germany, to standardized tests like the TOEFL,
SAT, IELTS, DELF/DALF, and to help them make the most of studying abroad. The
pilot program, successfully launched in early April at “Lazar” National College in Bu-
charest reached out to underserved academic communities in Galati, Sibiu, Oradea,
and Petrosani in April-May. The events were promoted through the joint efforts of
the four institutions behind the “International Study Day” project and attracted over-
all almost 1,000 students, parents, and teachers. The Intl Study Day fall schedule
will be included in FEAC’s online calendar at http://bit.ly/feac_events.
Beyond Intl Study Day: High School and University Students Discover U.S. Study in Bucharest,
Cluj, Galati, and Sibiu
Over April-June, the Fulbright Educational Advising Center visited 12 high schools and 8 university de-
partments in Bucharest, Cluj, Galati, and Sibiu and connected with a great number of students and
teaching staff. FEAC highlighted study and scholarship opportunities in the USA. Prospective applicants
were introduced to the wealth of online and face-to-face U.S. admissions support services FEAC makes
available free of charge.
MBA Programs in the USA, with Funding: Online Session with Willamette University
By working directly with Willamette University, FEAC was able to set up an informative session including
strategies for preparing a successful application to an MBA program in the U.S. and financing grad study
in the USA. Among other things, participants learned about Romanian MBA success stories, which in-
cluded a former FEAC advisee who thrived on the Willamette MBA on most generous financial aid.
FEAC in Cluj: Promotion of the Fulbright Program with Peace Corps Volunteers and More
As a result of its steady cooperation with Peace Corps Romania, FEAC was invited to participate in the
Career Options seminar organized on April 26 in Cluj for Peace Corps Volunteers finishing their program
in Romania. With the support of Jessica Miller, U.S. Fulbright grantee in Timisoara, the FEAC rep empha-
sized the graduate school options and the Fulbright Student program.
EducationUSA Family News: New Member in the FEAC Team
Laura, a graduate of the American Studies BA at the University in Bucharest, has tem-
porarily joined FEAC thanks to a grant awarded by the U.S. Embassy. Laura has all the
makings of a great adviser thanks to her previous internship with the advising center
and her passion for the U.S. culture and higher education. Among her projects: develop-
ing a video library for Romanian students interested in U.S. study, helping with the re-
vamp of the comprehensive FEAC advising website, and more.
New Energy at FEAC: Internationally-savvy U.S. Intern at FEAC in July-August
Anne, our newest U.S. intern, graduated from Miami University in Ohio and, up until the
end of June, taught English to university students in Beijing, China. She will intern with
FEAC for almost two months and will be involved in a range of far-reaching FEAC pro-
jects. Stop by for a chat starting July 5!
FEAC Open All Summer: Jumpstart Your U.S. Application at FEAC!
www.fulbright.ro
7
8. Bucharest, June 30, 2012
Volume V, Issue 2
Partners
Need more info? Contact us!
Public hours Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission:
Tue: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Wed: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Thu: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Phone: 021 230 7719; 021 231 5500
Public Hours Fulbright Educational Advising Center:
E-mail us:
Tue: 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm
office@fulbright.ro
Wed: 1:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thu: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Phone: 021 231 9015
Website: www.fulbright.ro
Location: 2, Ing. Costinescu St., Sector 1,
Bucharest 011878, Romania
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Romanian.US.Fulbright.Commission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FulbrightRO
This Newsletter is produced by the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission in Romania.
If you wish to cancel your subscription to this newsletter contact office@fulbright.ro
8 www.fulbright.ro