1. Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission
Education in the
American Way
Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission
NEWSLETTER
Bucharest, June 30, 2011
Volume IV, Issue 2
COMMISSION NEWS
GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE
Table of Contents:
Commission News ► From Romanian Fulbrighters
 Now Open: Fulbright Senior Award 2011-2012
 Now Open: Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship  Interview with Fulbrighter Cristiana Grigore
2012 in Romanian Media
 Fulbright Workshop on Management of Student  Fulbright Voices for Romania
Services - June 10-11  Interview by Cristina Cheveresan, Romanian
 East-West Cultural Passage Conference - May Fulbright Alumna
6-7  News from Catalin Albu, Romanian Fulbright
 Book Launch – Fulbright Ripple Effect on Inter- Grantee
national Education -April 16
Graduate and Undergraduate
► From U.S. Fulbrighters
 4 X Princeton and Counting!
 Sharing the Fulbright Experience in Serbia  U.S. Culture for Romanian High School Stu-
 News from Annie Pennell, U.S. Fulbright English dents: a Fond Introduction through Movie
Teaching Assistant Landmarks
 U.S. Fulbrighter in the Romanian Media  “In the Embassy” Program for College Stu-
 Collaboration between U.S. Fulbright Grantee dents: A Close Up on Work in the U.S. For-
Jake Shulman-Ment and Romanian Fulbright eign Service and Study in the USA
Alumna Mariana Nicolae  Promotion of the Fulbright Core Programs
 Ileana Orlich, Fulbright Specialist – Awards, Ac-  U.S. Students Increase Advising Capacity
tivities and Projects  The Win-Win Approach to Internships: Ro-
manian and U.S. Students Polish their Pro-
fessional Know-How at the Fulbright Educa-
tional Advising Center (FEAC)
http://www.facebook.com/
Romanian.US.Fulbright.Commission
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2. Bucharest, June 30, 2011
Volume IV, Issue 2
COMMISSION NEWS
Now Open: Fulbright Senior Award 2011-2012
Fulbright Senior Award is a very generous program for Romanian professors, re-
searchers and professionals who have a doctoral degree or equivalent. Grants are
available for conducting research at the U.S. institutions and/or lecturing in the
U.S. institutions. The Romanian applicants are invited to submit applications no
later than November 7, 2011. Click here for details.
Now Open: Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship 2012
A new grant competition has just been opened this June. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow-
ship 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 ad-
vantage of a self-defined program of independent non degree study. The Romanian
applicants are invited to submit applications no later than August 28, 2011. Click
here for details.
Fulbright Workshop on Management of Student Services - June 10-11
On June 10-11, the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission in collaboration with the Embassy of the
United States organized an event entitled Workshop for Improving the Romanian Higher Education
System. Development and Integration of Student Services. The event is the first in a series of three
workshops to address topics of interest for improving the Romanian higher education system, such as
Research Management, Management of the Internationalization of Campuses and Management of Stu-
dent Services. The first workshop – dedicated to the Management of Student Services – was hosted by
Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj on June 10 and 11 and was designed to be attended by Provosts and
other decision-making university staff members, as well as representatives of the Romanian Ministry
of Education. The 2-day event included lectures on the topic and practical applications devised for the
training of these educational managers. The workshop was conducted by Dr. Nancy Sherman, Ful-
bright Alumna, professor and clinical coordinator at Bradley University, IL and a highly experienced
visiting lecturer coming from the U.S., who shared knowledge and expertise about the practice of the
fields in the American universities, translated into a better curricula design and content of the aca-
demic programs for training and improving the efficiency of academic management in Romania.
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3. Bucharest, June 30, 2011
Volume IV, Issue 2
COMMISSION NEWS
East-West Cultural Passage Conference - May 6-7
The 2011 edition of the “East-West Cultural Passage Conference: Contact Zones in the Global World”
organized by the Department of British and American Studies, the Academic Anglophone Society and
“C. Peter Magrath” Research Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies in association with the Romanian-U.S.
Fulbright Commission took place in Sibiu on May 6,7. Romanian and U.S. Fulbright alumni and grant-
ees presented papers in different panels of the conference. Besides the scientific value, the conference
was also an opportunity for the American Fulbrighters to meet as a group before finishing their schol-
arship and leaving Romania. Let us use this opportunity to say a warm THANK YOU, DEAR FRIENDS!
to all American Fulbrighters who are finishing their Romanian grant and will be leaving soon.
Book Launch – Fulbright Ripple Effect on International Education -April 16
On April 16, the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission and Romanian
Alumni Community organized the book launch of the 3rd Fulbright Anni-
versary Volume - Fulbright Ripple Effect on International Education. Look-
ing Ahead from a Romanian & American Perspective. The book launch en-
joyed the presence of many alumni, some recently returned from U.S.,
others that benefited from the Fulbright experience more than 40 years
ago, but also of students, graduates and professionals.
For more details, please follow the link
http://www.fulbright.ro/news/469-book-launch-fulbright-ripple-effect-on-
international-education.html. Also, more pictures are available on our
Facebook account:
http://www.facebook.com/Romanian.US.Fulbright.Commission?sk=wall&filter=1#!/media/set/fbx/?
set=a.10150584247570008.649559.10150095647155008.
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4. Bucharest, June 30, 2011
Volume IV, Issue 2
COMMISSION NEWS
► FROM U.S. FULBRIGHTERS
Sharing the Fulbright Experience in Serbia
Staci Defibaugh, ETA in Sibiu, recently traveled to Novi Sad, Serbia
to present a paper at the annual English Language Teaching Associa-
tion (ELTA) Conference held April 8-9.
Staci’s paper, entitled, ‘A Discourse Analysis Approach to Grammar
Instruction,’ focused on activities that language teachers can employ
at a variety of levels in practically any teaching environment. The
presentation was well received with positive comments by many of
the audience members.
While in Novi Sad, she was also invited to be a guest speaker in an
advanced English course at a private language school, 4U. Staci
spoke with the students about her experiences of living in Romania,
about how it compares to life in the U.S. and about the Fulbright program: its mission and the opportu-
nities it provides. She also talked with the students about education in Romania and Serbia and the
need for students in all countries to learn English in order to be successful professionally.
“Overall, it was amazing, both professionally and personally. I am grateful that I had this opportunity to
extend the Fulbright experience outside of Romania and learn more about one of Romania’s neighboring
countries.”
News from Annie Pennell, U.S. Fulbright English Teaching Assistant
In April, Annie Pennell, U.S. Fulbright Grantee had the opportunity to
participate in the conference Wounded Bodies - Wounded Minds: Inter-
sections of Memory and Identity, hosted by Alexandru Ioan Cuza Univer-
sity and the University of Konstanz. Besides representing Fulbright she
also was a representative of her alma mater, Arizona State University,
with Dr. Maureen Goggin, the Chair of the English Department, and a
plenary speaker at the conference. Annie presented a paper entitled
"Back to Baghdad: Loss and Love in Jaber's The Flying Carpet of Small
Miracles." and discussed about issues of violence, human rights viola-
tions, trauma, suffering, memory, and identity with international schol-
ars from a variety of disciplines.
U.S. Fulbrighter in the Romanian Media
On May 27, Barbara Mueller, U.S. Fulbrighter in Constanta held a pres-
entation at the American Corner entitled "The Cowboy: An American
Icon". The presentation in Barbara’s words: “ As an overview, I dis-
cuss the Cowboy is an icon of America and a colorful symbol of "the
west." Some of the legends regarding the cowboy culture are true;
others have been exaggerated by Hollywood, artists, and novel writ-
ers, mainly for profit. This presentation separates the myths from
reality to present a more accurate picture of the American cowboy,
past and present.”
The presentation was covered by the Romanian media. To read the
entire articled, please follow the links below.
http://www.ziuaconstanta.ro/rubrici/social/the-american-cowboy-la-american-corner-galerie-foto-
66994.html;
http://observator.ro/cowboy-la-universitate-89053.html
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5. Bucharest, June 30, 2011
Volume IV, Issue 2
COMMISSION NEWS
► FROM U.S. FULBRIGHTERS
Collaboration between U.S. Fulbright Grantee Jake Shulman-Ment and Romanian Fulbright
Alumna Mariana Nicolae
Jake Shulman-Ment, currently a Fulbright Student grantee in Ethnomusicology in Romania, has brought
together a group of musicians from the Republic of Moldova and the U.S. and had a series of concerts in
several Romanian cities.
On June 21, Jake Shulman-Ment & Basarabish performed a Klezmer concert at Curtea de Arges Mu-
seum. On the same day, Jake also held a workshop about folk and Jewish music, but also about his Ful-
bright experience in Romania. The event was organized by the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission,
English-Speaking Union-Romania and Curtea de Arges Museum. Jake collaborated with Dr. Mariana
Nicolae, Romanian Fulbright alumna and founding member of the English-Speaking Union-Romania in
organizing the event.
Also, on Sunday, June 19 Jake and his group performed during the Klezmer & More Festival in Bucharest
at Green Hours jazz-café. The Basarabish group includes: Jacob Shulman-Ment (USA) – violin, Benjamin
Fox-Rosen (USA) - bass, guitar, Efim Chorny (Republic of Moldova) – vocals, Suzanna Ghergus
(Republic of Moldova) – piano and Adrian Receanu (Republic of Moldova) – clarinet. Congratulations to
Jake for all his hard work and successful artistic endeavors.
Ileana Orlich, Fulbright Specialist – Awards, Activities and Projects
Dr. Ileana Orlich, a distinguished Fulbright Senior Alumna, is a Professor of Romanian Studies and Com-
parative Literature and Director of the Arizona State University Romanian Studies Program. She was re-
cently awarded the title of Professor of the Year 2011 by the Arizona State University Parents Associa-
tion. More details at http://asunews.asu.edu/20110413_poy. Let us also mention that Ileana is the Hon-
orary Consul General of Romania in Arizona. Please find details about the consular program conducted
by Ileana at http://www.public.asu.edu/~orlich/.
Among many other activities and projects, during the 3 weeks in Ro-
mania Ileana Orlich spent in Romania as a Fulbright Specialist, she was
a key-note speaker at the International Conference organized by the
Department of International Economic Relations within the Academy of
Economic Studies in Bucharest. Ileana also has accepted the invitation
of Adina Ciugureanu, Dean and Professor of American Studies at the
Ovidius University in Constanta, to give a talk on Saturday, May 28, to
the graduate students and faculty in the program. The title of the talk
was “Writing between Two Cultures: The Novels of Herta Muller”. As
always, Ileana has helped the Fulbright Commission carry out its other
programs, this time as a member of the panel for Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program inter-
views. Here is Ileana’s comment to the event: “It's always a privilege to be a part of the Fulbright office
activities here, in Bucharest, and today's interviews were no exception. I am confident that the success-
ful candidates will bring a world of talent and positive energy to the teaching profession and that their
efforts will make a difference in the lives of American and Romanian students.”
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6. Bucharest, June 30, 2011
Volume IV, Issue 2
COMMISSION NEWS
► FROM ROMANIAN FULBRIGHTERS
Interview with Fulbrighter Cristiana Grigore in Romanian Media
Cristiana Grigore, Fulbrighter in 2009-2010 at Vanderbilt University din SUA
talks about her experience in U.S., her articles published by International
Herald Tribune and New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/
opinion/03iht-edgrigore.html), her Roma identity and her studies in the field
of international education policy. To read the entire article, please follow the
link below.
http://www.romanialibera.ro/opinii/interviuri/cum-mi-am-spus-povestea-in-
new-york-times-229281.html
Fulbright Voices for Romania
On April 3rd, the online version of the Romanian daily “Evenimentul zilei”
published an interview with Dr. Victor Neumann, well-known Romanian his-
torian, political analyst, and a Professor at the University of the West in Ti-
mişoara. Dr. Neumann was a Fulbright Scholar at the Catholic University of
America. The article may be accessed at the address http://www.evz.ro/
detalii/stiri/victor-neumann-spre-deosebire-de-universitatile-romanesti-in-
cele-occidentale-nu-se-pierde-ti.html
The interview is one in a series of articles published as part of Ovidiu Coci-
eru’s “Voices for Romania” initiative. Ovidiu is a Junior Fulbright Alumnus
who has a Master’s degree in Sport Management at the University of Massa-
chusetts in 2009-2010. While in Massachusetts, Ovidiu started the “Voices for Romania” project, with
the aim of increasing the visibility and involvement of professional people in Romanian society. For more
details about the project, please access www.vocipentruromania.ro.
Interview by Cristina Cheveresan, Romanian Fulbright Alumna
Cristina Cheveresan, Romanian Fulbright Alumna in 2010-2011 interviewed the
American writer Gish Jen. The interview was published in the Romanian publication
entitled “Orizont”.
To read the entire interview, please follow the link below:
http://www.fulbright.ro/media/pdf/Gish%20Jen%20Interview.pdf
News from Catalin Albu, Romanian Fulbright Grantee
Dr. Catalin Albu of the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Romania, cur-
rently a Senior Fulbright Grantee at the University of Dayton, Ohio, reports on
his visits to three major American Universites. Two of these visits were fi-
nanced via the Occasional Lecturer Fund (OLF), namely Temple University (Fox
School of Business and Management) and San Diego State University (Charles
W. Lamden School of Accountancy). The third lecture took place at DePaul Uni-
versity (School of Accountancy). Catalin has lectured during his visits on the
theme of accounting developments in emerging economies, with a focus on ac-
counting education, profession and International Financial Reporting Standards
implementation in Romania to an audience comprised of faculty, PhD students,
graduate and undergraduate students. These visits served as excellent oppor-
tunities to develop the level of understanding between American and Romanian
accounting researchers, and possibly create professional and personal relationships.
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Volume IV, Issue 2
GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE
4 X Princeton and Counting!
4 Romanian friends of the Fulbright Educational Advising Center will
increase the Romanian contingent at the second best university in the
United States according to the U.S. News & World Report 2011.
Their relationship with the EducationUSA Center in Bucharest goes a
long way. They all:
- participated in our comprehensive 10-hour training program
on undergraduate admissions,
- scheduled repeat individual advising sessions,
- enjoyed FEAC’s thorough critique of their admissions essay,
- were inspired by the U.S. university highlights featuring Ro-
manian students thriving at top
U.S. schools organized by the center,
- attended (and loved!) the U.S. Culture Club sessions held in spring-summer 2010,
- diligently studied for the standardized tests under our guidance,
- took the SATs at our Advising Center, and much more.
They will be part of the Pre-Departure Orientation in early July.
In addition, they will help generate inspiring success stories for more Romanian students to follow in
their footsteps.
U.S. Culture for Romanian High School Students: a Fond Introduction through Movie Land-
marks
Romanian students have had the chance to explore U.S. cultural values as
reflected in iconic movies. The U.S. culture sessions were hosted by High
School “Caragiale” and were open to everybody interested in the U.S. cul-
ture. Participants interacted with U.S. Consular staff, FEAC advisers, as
well as BA and MA students in the American Studies program in the Bucha-
rest University.
Each session include pre-viewing activities providing information on the U.S. historic and economic
background, while-watching activities and then an insightful discussion. The movies selected for the first
4 sessions were “Rocky” (May 4), “Dead poets society” (May 18), “The Shawshank Redemption” (June
1), “Good Will Hunting” (June 15). This initiative took off so well this spring that high school students,
now on vacation, suggested two more sessions exploring U.S. history and diversity, which we developed
on Native Americans. Wednesday June 29 and Tuesday July 5 were thus dedicated to watching and dis-
cussing “Thunderheart” and The Last of the Mohicans”.
“In the Embassy” Program for College Students: A Close Up on Work in the U.S. Foreign Ser-
vice and Study in the USA
Through the "In the Embassy" program organized every month at the beginning of 2011 by leading stu-
dent organization “Ambition”, the U.S. Embassy and FEAC informed and inspired participants about work
in various sections of the U.S. Embassy and about U.S. graduate programs.
On April 21 and May 19, the FEAC reps teamed up with the Management Counselor and the Consul Gen-
eral, respectively, at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest. FEAC shed light on U.S. graduate admissions and
funding and answered the participants’ questions on the independent EducationUSA approach to the ap-
plication process.
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8. Bucharest, June 30, 2011
Volume IV, Issue 2
GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE
Promotion of the Fulbright Core Programs
Through extensive outreach in Bucharest, Craiova, Baia Mare,
Sibiu, and Oradea, the Fulbright Educational Advising Center
granted U.S. study and the Fulbright programs prominence in
person and online. All outreach campaigns combined visits and
presentation to high school students with discussions with the
teaching staff and a highlight of the Teaching Excellence and
Achievement program administered by the Romanian-U.S. Ful-
bright Commission. The outreach was productive for college stu-
dents as well: at all locations visited, they had the opportunity to
attend presentations on graduate study in the USA, both through
the Fulbright Programs and also as independent students attract-
ing extensive financial support from U.S. universities.
U.S. Students Increase Advising Capacity
Nathan Merlin recently graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Hu-
man Development and Family Sciences. He is currently planning on going to Portland
State University in fall to get a master’s degree in education in order to become an in-
ternational advisor. In the meantime he is thrilled to have an opportunity to intern at
the Fulbright Educational Advising Center of the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission.
In this way he gets a chance to share his educational experiences in the U.S. and at
international campuses, while being able to learn about a different culture and educa-
tional system.
The Win-Win Approach to Internships: Romanian and U.S. Students Pol-
ish their Professional Know-How at the Fulbright Educational Advising
Center (FEAC)
Over the years, the strong partnership between the Fulbright Educational Advis-
ing Center within the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission and a range of top
local universities and U.S. institutions - such as IE3 Global Internships - has re-
sulted in an exciting range of internships at FEAC.
With one dynamic U.S. intern back in the United States after
a productive 10-week collaboration with the Advising Center,
this spring, we welcomed five new interns into our team:
four students from the American Studies Department at the
University of Bucharest – three undergrads and one Master’s - as well as a Bucha-
rest Academy of Economic Studies undergrad. All five additions to the energetic
FEAC office shared a passion for the U.S. culture and higher education. They were
engaged in diverse offline and online projects and provide input on website and
Facebook page; helped organize and took part in various upcoming events such as
U.S. Culture Club, U.S. Flag Day, and outreach to local high schools & universities.
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9. Bucharest, June 30, 2011
Volume IV, Issue 2
PARTNERS
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