Campus News

Mills Receives Fulbright Scholarship

4/29/15
Worthington Campus

Dr. David Mills, Minnesota West Community & Technical College Instructor, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to go to Bashkir State University, located in Ufa, Russia during the 2016 academic year, announced by the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Mills is one of approximately 800 American scholars and professionals per year to approximately 130 countries, where they lecture and/or conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields. 

The Fulbright is a very competitive award, requiring scholars to propose a plan for their time abroad. Mills’ proposal spans spring semester of 2016, although the Russian spring semester is usually 21 weeks long as compared to 16 weeks in America, and runs from February through June. His plan consists of three parts, starting with teaching Russian students about American history and culture. All courses are taught in English. Next, he will offer presentations of the U.S. community college system to university and community leaders in the city where he is assigned. The Russians have nothing like a community college, and the American government is very enthusiastic about the 2-year college model. Finally, his proposal includes a partnership with a Russian historian to write a joint account of the Cold War from Russian and American perspectives. Mills and the Russian scholar would each select a particular city to focus their studies, and compare and contrast the Cold War experiences of residents. Possible topics include civil defense efforts, events designed to foster patriotism in each country, and the perceptions of the other nation’s objectives.

The Fulbright Program aims to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, and it is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. Fulbright alumni have become heads of state, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs, and university presidents, as well as leading journalists, artists, scientists, and teachers. They have been awarded 53 Nobel Prizes. Since its beginnings in 1946, more than 360,000 Fulbrighters have participated in the Program.

Senator Fulbright’s goal of developing international understanding depends on a commitment from Fulbright grantees to establish open communication and long-term cooperative relationships. As a Fulbrighter and a representative of the United States, Mills will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with international partners in educational, political, cultural, economic, and scientific fields. The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by then-Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas.

For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, please visit our website at http://fulbright.state.gov or contact James A. Lawrence, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, telephone 202-632-3241 or email fulbright@state.gov.

United States Department of State
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Washington, DC  20522
http://fulbright.state.gov