Three 2024 Georgia Southern Honors College graduates selected as Fulbright Scholars in Taiwan, Colombia and Latvia
Three 2024 糖心Vlog Honors College graduates have been selected to participate in the 2024-2025 Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
The three Georgia Southern Fulbright Scholars are:
James Landers (鈥�24)聽
English Teaching Assistant Program in Taiwan
A history major, James Landers worked with Mao Lin, Ph.D., to complete his honors thesis, 鈥淯nilateralism and Strategic Ambiguity in American Foreign Policy: The Taiwan Relations Act in Context.鈥� Landers’ research fueled his desire to travel to Taiwan and apply for this opportunity. His primary goal for the year is 鈥渢o increase my proficiency in Mandarin so that upon my return to the United States I can jump right into my graduate research on the United States鈥� relationship with Taiwan and China.鈥�
Rylee Stanton (鈥�24)
English Teaching Assistant Program in Colombia
Rylee Stanton, who graduated with a degree in international studies and world languages and cultures 鈥� Spanish, studied abroad in Colombia in the summer of 2022, and was eager to return. Stanton completed an honors thesis, 鈥淭he Edge of Paradise: Consumer Experiences with Sustainable Development,鈥� with William Biebuyck, Ph.D., in the Department of Political Science and International Studies. Stanton is thrilled to continue to explore this topic further as a Fulbright Scholar. 鈥淢y time teaching will be spent creating powerful educational experiences for students and building a community of lifelong learners and global citizens,鈥� she said.
Lilly Thompson 鈥�24
Study/Research Grant to Latvia
International studies graduate Lilly Thompson completed her thesis, 鈥淓xamining Populist Political Parties in the Baltic States and Slovenia,鈥� with Jacek Lubeccki, Ph.D., in the Department of Political Science and International Studies, and is excited to continue to research the Baltic States in graduate school. Thompson will earn a master鈥檚 degree in international governance and diplomacy in Latvia while researching transitional justice. 鈥淭he legacy of transitional justice still informs Latvia鈥檚 governance and foreign policy today, especially regarding the treatment of ethnic minorities and support for other victims of gross human rights violations, such as in Ukraine,鈥� she said.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program expands perspectives through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue. Fulbright creates connections in a complex and changing world. In partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers unparalleled opportunities in all academic disciplines to passionate and accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students and young professionals from all backgrounds. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research or teach English abroad.
During their grants, Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences. The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others鈥� viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things and the way they think. Through engagement in the community, individuals will interact with their hosts on a one-to-one basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding.
The Honors College at Georgia Southern is an inclusive community of scholars that fosters intellectual and professional development through undergraduate research and creative scholarship, experiential learning, global engagement and personalized mentorship.