Dr. Muthusami Kumaran (Dr. K), Family, Youth & Community Science Associate Professor of Nonprofit Management & Community Organizations has just received the 2019-2020 Core Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to South Korea. He becomes the first FYCS faculty to go abroad as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar. This Award further solidifies Dr. K’s international reputation as an expert and scholar in nonprofit/NGO management.
During his six-month Fulbright Award period (August 2019 – January, 2020) he will be hosted by the Jeju National University, Jeju Island, S. Korea. He will teach a graduate course entitled “Roles, Impacts & Operations of NGOs in Society” at JNU’s Department of Sociology; conduct research on South Korean environmental NGOs’ capacity building in collaboration with the World Environment & Island Studies Institute and Asia Climate Change Education Center; and train environmental NGO leaders in protecting natural resources of the spectacular Island of Jeju. Dr. K is no stranger to the academic and NGO communities in Jeju. He has been there nine times during the past eight years for invited lectures, keynote speeches for international conferences on climate change, and research. He also currently serves his third term (since 2013) on the Global Environmental Advisory Council based on Jeju and appointed by its Governor.
His award letter, among other details, states “Your selection for a Fulbright award is an achievement for which you can be justly proud. As a Fulbright recipient and a representative of the United States, you will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with international partners in educational, political, cultural, economic, and scientific fields. In so doing, you will exemplify the qualities of service, leadership, and excellence that have been hallmarks of this Program for more than 70 years. We hope that your Fulbright experience will be deeply rewarding professionally and personally, and that you will share the knowledge you gain with many others throughout your life.”
FYCS Professor and Department Chair, Dr. Tracy Irani writes “We were all very excited to hear the news about Dr. Kumaran being selected for a Fulbright Award. This a great achievement- getting a Fulbright is considered to be a very prestigious accomplishment. He has worked very hard for this. I know he will do well, representing FYCS, IFAS and the university in the worldwide community of Fulbright Scholars.”
Dr. K says this about his Fulbright Scholarship: “This Award is absolutely humbling as it fulfils a deeply personal quest of mine. From my humble beginnings in a small town in Southern India, I’ve come a long way in my life, scaled several personal & professional heights, and WILL continue to do so. But securing a Core Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award (the crown jewel of all Fulbright awards) is so very special because it has always been a dream career-pinnacle for me…and now it’s a reality! I couldn’t have done this without the unwavering support & encouragement of my wife Leela, our daughter Janani, FYCS Chair Dr. Tracy Irani, some colleagues here at UF, in South Korea, and across the Globe. JEJU ISLAND… HERE I COME (in 2019 Fall)!”