Current Awardees

The Fulbright Commission is delighted to announce the following Fulbright US Awardees to Ireland for the 2009 – 2010 academic year:

Dr. Kristen Billiar of Worcester Polytechnic Institute will be based in the Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials at the National University of Ireland Galway.  He will conduct research on the interaction between nanoscale structures in tissue engineering scaffolds and design inquiry-based biomaterials teaching laboratories. He will also teach graduate courses in biomedical engineering.

Dr. Bonnie Louise Callen of University of Tennessee, Knoxville will be based in the College of Medicine and Health at University College Cork.   Dr. Callen will contribute to the development of a Nursing Research Program for the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery at UCC. She will also research comparisons of obesity trends and potential interventions among community dwelling older adults in Ireland and the US.

Dr. Gerard Caprio of Williams College will be based in the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Department of Economics at Trinity College Dublin. Dr. Caprio will also visit the Institute for International Integration Studies at Trinity College Dublin. He will both teach a graduate level seminar and conduct research on financial regulation.

Mr. Kevin Conroy a graduate of Boston College will enrol on a Masters in Nua-Ghaeilge at the National University of Ireland Galway. Kevin is the recipient of a Fulbright Student Award in the Irish Language sponsored by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the National Lottery.

Dr. Leslie Aileen Duram of Southern Illinois University Carbondale will be based at the National University of Ireland Galway School of Geography and Archaeology, Department of Geography. Dr. Duram will lecture and contribute to courses in organic, local food, environmental management and sustainable land use policy.

Dr. Michael Saverio Ferrara of University of Georgia will be based in the Athletic Training and Therapy Program at Dublin City University. Dr. Ferrara will lecture on courses related to athletic injury assessment. He will also conduct research on sport-related concussion in developing an epidemiological injury reporting system and assessment of recovery curves following concussion.

Dr. William Ronald Large from Gonzaga University will be based in the Irish School of Ecumenics at Trinity College Dublin. Dr. Large will teach in the International Peace Studies Program in the areas of nonviolence, violence, social change and conflict resolution. His research will investigate the influence of Martin Luther King and Gandhi on the Irish peace process.

Ms. Elizabeth Maxfield, a recent graduate of the Berklee College of Music, will pursue the one-year Master of Arts in Irish Traditional Music Performance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. Elizabeth aims to produce a method book adapting the stylistic elements of traditional Irish music to the cello. http://LizDavisMaxfield.com

Dr. Nancy McEntire of Indiana State University is the Fulbright – Culture Ireland Scholar in Traditional Music.  Dr. McEntire will be based at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. Dr. McEntire will use ethnographic fieldwork to examine the act of instrumental tune acquisition in the Shannon region of Ireland.

Dr. Ryan Patrick McLaughlin from Seattle University will be based at the Centre for Research in Atmospheric Chemistry at University College Cork. Dr. McLaughlin will lecture on photochemistry and thermodynamics within the Department of Chemistry. He will also research and develop instructional active learning exercises focusing on environmental chemistry education and atmospheric chemistry of ice surfaces.

Dr. Robert Michael O’Connell of University of Missouri, Columbia will be based in the Faculty of Engineering at Dublin Institute of Technology. Dr. O’Connell will research engineering curricula and the use of active teaching and learning methods to improve student learning in engineering fields. He will also design a problem-based introductory engineering course which uses active learning group activities at DIT.

Ms. Emily Ann Ravenscroft a graduate student at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill will enrol on a Masters in Nua-Ghaeilge at the National University of Ireland Galway.  Emily is the recipient of a Fulbright Student Award in the Irish Language sponsored by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the National Lottery. She will also conduct research on the communal narratives of Gaeltacht communities in Donegal, Connemara and Belfast.

Mr. Alexander Robins a recent graduate of Northwestern University will pursue the Masters in Aesthtics and History of Art at University College Cork, Department of Philosophy. Alexander will research the theories of art by Kant which were adapted by the 20th century American philosopher John Dewey.

Dr. Adam David Sheingate of Johns Hopkins University will be based in the School of History and Archives at the University College Dublin. Dr. Sheingate will research the origins and development of political consulting in the U.S. He will also lecture courses on American Political Development at the graduate level.

Dr. Elizabeth Skowron of Pennsylvania State University will be based in the School of Psychology at the National University of Ireland Galway. Dr. Skowron will conduct cross-national research focused on at-risk families, parenting and risk factors associated with children’s health outcomes.  She will also contribute to the development and expansion of NUIG’s professional training of psychologists and practitioners in the field of family psychology.

Ms. Erin Marie Treacy, graduate of University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth will be based in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare for a painting residency. Ms. Treacy will develop her abstract work with interpretation of the Irish natural landscape. http://www.erintreacy.com/index.php

Ms. Mary Bayard White, Co-Head of the Glass Program at the Crucible Fire Arts Center in Oakland California will be based at the National College of Art and Design. As an Artist in Residence, Ms. White will work with groups of established craft makers and craft based MA students on design theory, aesthetics and environmental issues. With support from the Crafts Council of Ireland, Ms. White will develop and deliver Landscape of Aesthetics And Design: Seminar & Conference.