Three UH-Clear Lake profs receive Fulbright Awards

University of Houston-Clear Lake Associate Professor of Geography Jeff Lash and Associate Professor of Sociology Mike McMullen have been awarded Fulbright Scholar grants by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. In addition, Professor of Fine Arts Sandria Hu received a Fulbright Specialists grant.

McMullen and Lash are two of approximately 1,100 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad as part of the Fulbright Scholar Program during the next academic year.

Lash, who earned a master’s degree in geography education from Texas State University and a bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of Texas at Austin, will be a visiting lecturer in political geography at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, through the Fulbright program.
 
“In both undergraduate and graduate seminars, I’ll be introducing some new topics and approaches to the department,” said Lash. “I’ll also be working with faculty in Serbia to seek out future collaborations.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to act as an ambassador for UH-Clear Lake and for our nation. Of course, working in the Balkans will enhance my understanding of one of the most culturally diverse regions on Earth. I hope to learn a great deal.”

McMullen has been granted a lectureship at the American University in Cairo for the 2009-2010 academic year. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and mathematics from the University of Kansas and a doctorate in sociology from Emory University in Atlanta.

“I am very honored to be a Fulbright scholar,” said McMullen. “I see my role while at American University in Cairo to not only be a teacher, but a student. I hope to teach my students about the amazing diversity of American religion, but also be a student of Egyptian and Islamic culture, and bring that knowledge back to my students here at UH-Clear Lake."

Hu joined a distinguished list of Fulbright awardees when she received notice of being named the recipient of a Fulbright Specialists grant offering her 2 ½ weeks abroad. With the grant, Hu will be lecturing at the University of Arts in Belgrade, Serbia. Hu also will exhibit her work at the U.S. Embassy.

“I’ll be offering a workshop in printmaking to the faculty and students at the University of Arts in Belgrade,” said Hu. “I am excited about going to Serbia and look forward to exchanging ideas with the faculty and students.”

The Fulbright Specialists Program is designed to award grants to qualified U.S. faculty and professionals, in select disciplines, to engage in short-term collaborative two- to six-week projects at higher education institutions in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided approximately 294,000 people with the opportunity to observe each other’s political, economic, educational and cultural institutions, to exchange ideas and to embark on joint ventures of importance to the general welfare of the world’s inhabitants.