Grand Valley among nation's leaders in Fulbright Scholars

Grand Valley ranks among the nation’s leaders in producing Fulbright Scholars, according to data released by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The bureau sponsors the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program to encourage academic collaboration between U.S. faculty and international colleagues while the Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants to college graduates, graduate students and young professionals for international study and research opportunities.

“To be recognized as an institution that exemplifies the mission of Fulbright and the quality of education at GVSU deserves to be celebrated,” said Robert Smart, executive director for the Center of Scholarly and Creative Excellence. “This acknowledgement highlights the outstanding quality of our faculty in regards to their teaching and research expertise.”

This year, Grand Valley has two Fulbright Scholars, Cáel M. Keegan and Bopi Biddanda, ranking it among the top master’s institutions in the nation. 

“It has been a delight to work with faculty colleagues as they pursue Fulbright Scholar awards this past year,” said Brenda Tooley, program director of the Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships. “I am happy to see GVSU receive this recognition and look forward to continued success for our faculty in future years.”

Keegan, an assistant professor of women, gender and sexuality studies and liberal studies, works with faculty and students on transgender studies at the Transgender Media Lab in Canada’s Carleton University.

Biddanda, professor of water resources at the Annis Water Resources Institute, is a senior Fulbright core research/teaching fellow at the University of Grenada in Spain, aiding a collaborative study between the two universities.