Posted: 23 July 2012
Fulbright awards for UCD scholars
Four UCD scholars have been awarded Fulbright Awards to undertake research and teaching at US universities.
Jointly funded by the Irish and US governments under the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange, the Fulbright Awards provide Irish and US students, scholars and professionals with the opportunity to study, lecture and research at leading universities and institutions in the US and Ireland respectively. They were first established in 1957.
The four UCD recipients are:
- Dr Don Bredin, a Senior Lecturer in Finance at the Graduate School of Business, University College Dublin. He will undertake research on market dynamics in environmental finance at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research
- Shane Kiernan is the Fulbright – CRH Awardee in Business Studies (€20K). He holds a BBLS from University College Dublin and a Masters degree from Cass Business School, London. He is currently working as a healthcare consultant in Africa with the Clinton Health Access Initiative. He will undertake a Masters degree in Health Policy and Management at the Harvard School of Public Health
- Breandán Mac Ardghail teaches Nua-Ghaeilge at University College Dublin. He will be a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant at the University of Montana
- James Maher is currently completing a Masters on full scholarship in Irish and Communications at University College Dublin. He has taught first year students at UCD for the past year and will now teach Irish as a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota
Ms Una Halligan, Chair of the Fulbright Commission said:
“We were delighted but not surprised by the level and standard of applicants in the 2012 Irish awards competition. The reputation of Fulbright continues to grow as the international value and influence associated with being a ‘Fulbrighter’ becomes more widely recognised in both academic and professional contexts.”
“The breadth of each recipient’s field of expertise highlights the innovative nature of Fulbright which values all disciplines equally. Although their subjects are varied, each of these recipients has one very important trait in common - outstanding leadership ability. This is the true essence and purpose of Fulbright.”
“We have no doubt the collaborations and accomplishments they make while in the US will impact enormously on future growth across all realms of Irish society well into the future.”
The Fulbright Awards are presented on an annual basis to Irish students, scholars and professionals to undertake postgraduate study and research at higher education, cultural and related institutions in the United States. Applications are encouraged in all disciplines including the visual and performing arts. Later in the year the Commission will welcome 13 US Fulbright Scholars and 3 US Fulbright Students to Ireland
The next Fulbright Awards Competition 2013-2014 will open to applicants on Monday 27th August 2012. For more information visit www.fulbright.ie.(Produced by UCD University Relations)
