Dana Solonean

Home Institution: Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca
Host University: University of Maryland
Field: International Education Policy
Type of Grant: Research

There are many different ways in which Fulbright has enriched my life. I participated in classes, workshops, and presentations, applied advanced new methods in my research, and even attended the largest and most important conference on international education in the world. Yet, in retrospect, the aspect that mattered the most was that I encountered an engaged, diverse, and welcoming academic community.

I remember the excitement before workshops when I was meeting my colleagues in front of Benjamin Building in the warm autumn sun, passing through the hallways whose walls were telling a multitude of stories — the Latino community having their annual elections, the newest research results on gender inequality in higher education, the international student’s soccer championship — and finally the smile of my professors welcoming us with a jar of gummy bears. We debated paradigms, celebrated Halloween, Christmas, and Eid, shared personal stories, and participated in protests.

On my last day on campus, I presented the results of my research at the University of Maryland. Dr. Klees, my academic advisor, a senior professor, and a world-known expert in the field, thanked me at the end of the presentation for the contribution I brought to their community. His speech only confirmed what I had already learned: connection and solidarity are the containers of any valuable learning experience.

Now, it’s time to implement this philosophy at home!