2022-23 Fulbright: Laura Jensen

Laura Jensen, a senior secondary English (7-12) and German main on the College of Nebraska–Lincoln, has earned a Fulbright award to show English, carry out volunteer service and examine in Austria.

After spending a semester in Berlin and volunteering with Yazidi communities in Lincoln on the refugee-serving nonprofit Juniper Refuge, Jensen mentioned she realized the significance of cultural relations and supporting those that are in search of security and safety. These pursuits led the Lincoln native, who will graduate Might 14, to the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program and its mission of constructing mutual understanding between nations. Jensen utilized for and obtained the Group-Based mostly Mixed Grant, a particular Fulbright award supplied solely in Austria. Recipients work part-time as instructing assistants at Austrian secondary colleges whereas conducting initiatives or internships at group organizations and taking college programs.

This fall, Jensen will journey to Vienna to function an English Educating Assistant in Austrian lecture rooms whereas finding out on the College of Vienna and volunteering at Integrationshaus, a refugee group. She plans to introduce her college students to quite a lot of minority voices in American literature and to proceed to make use of artwork remedy methods, which she realized at Juniper Refuge, to permit refugees to share views and tradition.

Jensen, who can be a member of the College Honors Program, mentioned she hopes to develop in her understanding of intercultural relations and higher perceive the various helps that may be supplied to new group members.

“Together with her private heat, inclusive mindset and angle of service, Laura will likely be a unbelievable cultural ambassador,” mentioned Courtney Santos, director of nationwide and worldwide fellowships at Nebraska. “She will be able to share the methods during which Lincoln and Nebraska have been reworked and reinvigorated by the contributions of our vibrant immigrant communities.”

Upon her return, Jensen plans to work towards a grasp’s diploma in literature and proceed her work with native refugees.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship worldwide academic change program sponsored by the U.S. authorities and is designed to forge lasting connections between People and residents of different nations; counter misunderstandings; and assist individuals and nations work collectively towards frequent objectives. Since its institution in 1946, this system has supplied greater than 400,000 individuals from greater than 160 nations the chance to review; train and conduct analysis; change concepts; and contribute to discovering options to shared worldwide issues.

At Nebraska, the Workplace of Nationwide and Worldwide Fellowships advises and nominates undergraduate candidates for 30 supported scholarships and fellowships. To study extra, college students and campus group members might contact Courtney Santos, director of nationwide and worldwide fellowships, at courtney.santos@unl.edu.