Just as UF prepares to celebrate Fulbright Awareness Month, UFIC is pleased to announce that Michael Kung, Ed.D. (Director and Assistant Scholar, Office for Global Research Exchange) and Nicole Fuls (Assistant Director of Faculty Engagement, Study Abroad Services) both received the Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) award, which will allow them to participate in a two-week seminar abroad to learn about other countries’ higher education systems.
Dr. Kung is a triple gator with his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate from UF. While working on his Ed.D., Michael was the Director of Global Education at the College of Design, Construction and Planning. He is the current Director of the Office for Global Research and Engagement (OGRE), where he supports faculty in their international research, teaching, and community engagement. His dissertation was focused on international student perceptions of online education, and his research and experience working with students, scholars, and faculty at DCP gave him a broad view of UF’s global interactions.
Michael’s award will take him to Taiwan, where, in his two-week seminar he will be able to visit major universities and educational institutions around the island. “Every day is going to be packed from sunrise to sundown,” said Michael about his intense schedule. “Embracing the spirit of global collaboration and educational excellence, we are committed to expanding our horizons by actively seeking partnerships with Taiwanese counterparts, whether it involves study abroad, faculty and student exchange, or joint research initiatives.” Dr. Kung spent a year in Taiwan after his undergrad, so when the opportunity to return in this capacity with Fulbright presented itself, he jumped at the chance. Most Fulbright grants can last up to a year, but the IEA is a great opportunity specifically for administrators, as it is a relatively small commitment for the benefit it offers participants.
Nicole Fuls, in her role as Assistant Director, works directly with faculty to develop new faculty-led programs, maintain existing UF-administered Study Abroad programs, and ensure they have all the tools to confidently lead programs abroad. She started in higher education as an adjunct instructor, while earning her MA in Spanish Language, Literature and Culture from Marquette University. She started at UFIC in 2018 as a Study Abroad Advisor, but as Assistant Director of Faculty Engagement, “I have spent the last two years building faculty resources in Study Abroad from scratch.” Nicole co-developed the Study Abroad Leadership Program in 2020, a semester-long program that provides training, tools, and funding to develop new and innovative faculty-led summer programs.
Nicole’s IEA seminar will be in India—a place that she’s always wanted to see and a great destination to explore and create institutional linkages. “Currently there are zero outbound students to India,” said Fuls, referring to the absence of established Study Abroad Programs or Student Exchanges, “interesting, as the second largest inbound population is from India!” Nicole seeks to establish those connections to positively influence our current UF students to choose India as their study abroad destination. “Additionally, by building an understanding of Indian culture, our students can relate and welcome our Indian scholars and students to UF in a more meaningful way.”
photo credit: https://fulbrightscholars.org/us-scholar-awards/IEA
The mission of the Fulbright Program is to offer students and scholars the opportunity to participate in international educational and cultural exchange, to inspire, innovate, and contribute to finding solutions to challenges facing our communities and our world. The IEA is focused specifically on higher education administrators, “By going abroad and being able to see the institutions and meet the administrators, we will be able to bring back knowledge and experience that will help all units in UFIC,” says Nicole.
Currently, OGRE oversees the administration of the UF Fulbright Faculty Support Program, where they offer advising and feedback on applications, and events for Fulbrighters (including the upcoming Fulbright Awareness Month in March) and will help connect potential applicants with a network of UF Fulbright alumni. Dr. Kung is excited about the ways that this opportunity will help him to enhance his knowledge of the Fulbright program, “I will be able to go through the process, understand the program, and be better equipped to recruit and advise potential faculty and staff to apply in the future.”
Dr. Marta L. Wayne, Dean of the International Center said, “I’m proud to see our amazing staff recognized nationally through these unique Fulbright programs and excited to see what comes of the wonderful connections they will make.” Indeed, Michael and Nicole’s achievements are eclipsed only by the potential benefits of this opportunity, and the entire Center is excited to see what knowledge and experience they bring back from their Fulbright journeys. “I am grateful to be part of this team.”, Wayne added.
Congratulations Nicole and Michael!
To learn more about the Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) award, please visit here.