Starting this month Carleton scholars Christine Rivas and Sara Bannerman will be studying at American universities as part of the prestigious Fulbright Program.
The Fulbright Program is an educational exchange program operated out of the United States that provides an opportunity for scholars and students to travel to universities abroad.
The government-sponsored Canadian sector of the program is designed to allow for education in both countries to be enhanced by a mutual understanding between Canadians and Americans.
Rivas, a history instructor and alumna of Carleton, was named Fulbright visiting chair at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tenn.
“It is my fervent hope that my discussions with the large and vibrant American intellectual community will help me to familiarize myself with a greater breadth of scholarship,” Rivas said.
She will focus on the dynamics that underlie the class identity construction in 18th century Latin America at Vanderbilt, which happens to be one of the world’s leading academic institutions for Latin American studies.
Bannerman, a sessional lecturer in Carleton’s department of law, will travel to George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
“Receiving this award has been one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me,” said Bannerman.
Bannerman’s research will be focused on the topic of Canada, the United States and copyright laws. Bannerman said she hopes that her experience at GWU will allow her to broaden her knowledge of the history related to her research, particularly in regards to international copyright.
Out of the 200 to 300 people applying each year, only 15 to 20 scholars will be chosen, Fulbright Canada representative Graeme Cunningham said.
Those who are selected must be extremely accomplished individuals, many of whom have had some sort of prior international experience.
“It is time for others to discover the diamond in the rough — Carleton University — and to appreciate the cutting-edge research its scholars produce,” Rivas said.