Fulbright Chronicles, Volume 3, Number 2 (2024)
Author
Bruce B. Svare and Kevin F. F. Quigley
Fulbright Chronicles is growing and evolving in new and important directions. With the advent of book reviews, interviews with distinguished Fulbright alumni and themed issues, the journal has responded to suggestions from readers and editorial team members. We invite you to make recommendations that steer us in new directions and reflect the interests and concerns of our global Fulbright community. With your advice and help, we will evolve further and represent more of the impressive expertise of the Fulbright alumni.
We invite you to make recommendations that steer us in new directions and reflect the interests and concerns of our global Fulbright community
We are very pleased that we have chosen the theme of Artificial Intelligence and the Social Sciences as the next special issue, which will be published in April 2025: Like our earlier themed issue on sustainability, this issue on AI will bring important information and perspectives on a topic that will revolutionize nearly every aspect of our lives.. Please note the call for expression of interests for our next themed issue on artificial intelligence (AI) in the announcement section of this issue.
Another evolution is that the Chronicles is also expanding and restructuring our editorial board. The Fulbright program is represented in 160 countries in the world today. In our desire to achieve greater global representation, we need more board members who are Fulbrighters from outside the United States. Additionally, we will be adding the category of assistant editors that will be principally involved in our peer review process, while assisting with some other tasks. Associate editors will continue to be involved in peer review but will also be more involved with themed issues, book reviews, interviews and other special initiatives designed to enhance our presence as a professionally run indexed journal that is both current and appealing to our broad readership. Please check the notice related to this opportunities in our announcements.
This issue continues the emphases on scholarship and the enduring impact of the Fulbright experience that we set forth during our first year. Namely, we want articles that feature the important work that Fulbrighters do around the world, and we want the writing to be easily understood by those regardless of their disciplinary specialty. Eight articles in our current issue do just this. Fulbrighter Patrice Moulton helped to build a master’s degree program in psychology in Nepal and aided in the development of NGO programs that have helped to empower young Nepali girls. Fabiola Moshi, a Fulbrighter to the US from Tanzania, came to the US to learn new ways of teaching critical nursing skills through advances in technology. Bringing those techniques back home have significantly improved the professionalization of Tanzanian nurses. US Fulbrighter Naj Wikoff, promoted using the arts to support research in clinical studies and public health in Russian hospitals. His initiatives have been duplicated in many hospital settings and have helped to improve the general well-being of Russian patients. Jack Corbett, a US Fulbrighter to Costa Rica and Canada, has conducted field work examining key elements of success and survival of UNESCO world heritage sites in those countries. Corbett suggests that success is often related to the unique landscapes of these sites in neutralizing powerful outside interests. US Fulbrighter Kristina Jacobsen spent time in Sardinia, Italy where she co-wrote original songs with citizens of the country and authored an ethnographic book. Her work also inspired other projects including a study abroad program, a retreat and small business. Larissa Mistrean (Moldavan Fulbrighter to the US) and Kent Saunders (US Fulbrighter to Moldava) co-authored a critical analysis of teaching pedagogy in business schools in their respective countries. The differences and similarities they have noted have helped to improve education in both countries. US Fulbrighter to Macedonia Arthur Pizczatowski, promoted cooperation between colleagues, students, government and citizen stakeholders in his host country to improve curriculum and pedagogy and the effectiveness of institutions on a society-wide basis. Javier Matamoros-Beccera, a Spanish Fulbrighter to the US, examined the reasons for the support of Donald Trump in the American Midwest in the state of Iowa. His findings show that economic factors play a dominant role in Trump’s support. Lastly, this issue also has four reviews of books authored by Fulbrighters. The reviews, written by Fulbright alums, are sure to bring interesting insights to our readers.
As we evolve, we at the Fulbright Chronicles continue to be inspired by the words of former Fulbrighter and Slovenian prime ministers, Miro Cerar, who wrote in our first issue: “I strongly believe that the Fulbright Program must continue its commitment to providing insights into ideological, cultural, and other differences and finding ways to reconcile them through understanding, tolerance, and multidisciplinary approaches.”
We agree with Cerar’s conclusion. It motivates us to constantly evolve to improve the Chronicles to make it more globally inclusive and representative of the inspiring work that Fulbrighters do every day. We want to assure our readers that Fulbright Chronicles won’t stand still. We have an important role to fill and that is to share in an open, accessible, independent way the impactful work that Fulbrighters engage in globally. That work gives us hope for a better and more peaceful world.
Please enjoy this issue and let us know your suggestions on these articles and how we can continue to evolve and better fulfill the purposes of the Fulbright Chronicles. Thank you!