A record 11 SDSU students and alumni received the prestigious award for 2011–2012.
Fulbright recipients from SDSU will study in countries all over the world, including France.
Growing up in Hong Kong, Jennifer Cheung (’10, M.A. applied mathematics) was told that physics was a "boy's field." Now, she will be traveling to Denmark to explore the possibility of utilizing quantum cryptography, an absolute secure encryption, in the commercial world.
Cheung is one of 11 SDSU students and alumni—a record for the university—who have received the prestigious Fulbright Grant for 2011–2012. They join the elite group of more than 40 SDSU Fulbright grant recipients since 2005.
"I have always liked cutting-edge technology and would like to venture into something that no one has done before—that no one dares to do," Cheung said. "Many people doubt that we will have a commercialized quantum computer soon, but then I can't help to think, ‘if we already have internet, what's next?’"
SDSU as a global university
The Fulbright program challenges recipients to bridge culture gaps and promote understanding between the U.S. and foreign countries. The awardees will spend a full academic year conducting research or working as a teaching assistant in their respective countries.
“San Diego State is proud to once again be one of the leading universities nationally in receiving highly competitive student Fulbright awards,” said Provost Nancy Marlin. “These awards are consistent with the university’s goal of serving as a global university.”
Diverse collection of scholars This year’s SDSU student and alumni recipients include:
- Fabiola Beylounui (’10, French and art history) will be an English teaching assistant in France and host an art club in order for students to understand the differences and similarities between U.S. and French culture.
- Arik Brown (’09, international business) plans on using his photography skills to start a photo journal and blog with students in Spain, while helping them become more proficient in English.
- Jennifer Cheung (’10, M.A. applied mathematics) will study quantum cryptography with a research team at Aarhus University in Denmark.
- Jefferson Gamoning will study South Korean land use, urban form and transportation as part of his master’s in public administration program at SDSU.
- Johnathan Hacht (’11, philosophy) received a grant to study philosophy in Finland.
- Disly Juarez-Munoz (’10, M.A. public health) will conduct a health study investigating pediatric cancers related to pesticide exposure in Brazil.
- Eric McDermott (’11, psychology) will conduct research on Huntington's disease in Bangalore, India, at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences.
- Dana Morton (’11, M.A. biology) will study the population dynamics of reef fishes in New Zealand.
- Zia Salim will study housing compounds for foreign professionals in Bahrain as part of a joint Ph.D. program in geography.
- Isabel Velasco Atarejos ('08 psychology and women's studies) will teach English in Morocco and work with a local, community-based health organization. She graduated from University of Illinois with a master’s in public health in 2010.
- Monica Zobel (’11, fine arts) will study contemporary poetry in Austria, focusing on how the country’s multicultural and multilingual history informs its poetics.
In addition, four faculty members have received Fulbright Scholar grants this year.
To find out more about the SDSU Fulbright awards, faculty and students can visit SDSU’s Office of International Programs or contact Pat Huckle, SDSU Fulbright Adviser.
About the Fulbright program
The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. It is the largest U.S. international exchange program, supplying approximately 1,700 U.S. citizens each year the opportunity to undertake foreign graduate study, advanced research and teaching.
The program was founded in 1946 with the mission of establishing appreciation, tolerance and understanding between the U.S. and foreign countries.