"I just wanted to say how deeply and profoundly my exchange to Romania has affected my career. Truly, Romania is my home away from home. I have so many friends and colleagues there and have now visited well over a dozen times. I remain a champion for the program and laud the beauty of Romanian culture at every opportunity."
Podcast by Fulbright Alumnus Liviu Chelcea
Fulbright Alumnus Liviu Chelcea, professor in the Sociology Department of the University of Bucharest, is the author of a podcast based on his Fulbright research at The New School, focused on tap water and water infrastructure from an anthropological perspective.
The text & podcast was published by “Sfertul Academic,” an initiative that brings together social scientists, actors, and illustrators to create a space where researchers can share their findings with the general public.
The podcast is available at: http://antropedia.com/sfertulacademic/liviu-chelcea1/
Alumni Stories
"I brought back enduring connections with colleagues and friends and a resolve to return to reconnect and continue to explore the hidden corners of Romania and maybe find my own special spot in a secluded 'sat.'"
Mary Claire Heffron
U.S. Fulbright Scholar, 2019-2020
"I did not get to give Columbia a proper farewell last Spring, but I will do it now as a new year begins, and as I continue to unpack lessons from my time here. I arrived at Columbia full of curiosity and academic naiveté. Now I’m leaving with a collection of lessons yet to be fully revealed and distilled."
Oana Mihalache
Fulbright Student Researcher, 2019-2020
"My time as a Fulbrighter was about so much more than the research I was honored to work on. It was about building lasting relationships, learning about Romanian culture, and sharing my experiences with friends."
Elizabeth Wiita
U.S. Fulbright Student Researcher, 2019-2020
"If I were to sum up my Fulbright experience in just one word it would be ‘whirlwind.’ It will probably be years before I truly grasp the impact this journey has had on me and in my life."
Oana Chirilă
Fulbright Student Researcher, 2019-2020
"My memories of my Fulbright semester are a whirlwind of colors and sensations: the whimsical architecture of Bucharest streets—familiar, yet also very much changed—the smell of coffee in Old Town, the bustle of the Gara de Nord railway station and its trains, the outlines of the mountains in Brasov, the arches of greenery of Rose Park in Timisoara, and the salty bitter taste of the Black Sea on a scorching hot weekend in June."
Oana Godeanu-Kenworthy
U.S. Fulbright Scholar, 2018-2019
"The Fulbright Scholar Award gave me the unique opportunity to conduct research at the reputed Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California, and meet top scholars in communication and public diplomacy."
Alina Dolea
Fulbright Senior Award, 2015-2016
"The idea of experiencing one of the best education systems in the world (if not the best) could be quite overwhelming. But soon I realized that this is going to be a unique opportunity to learn as much as possible, to work like never before in my academic life. And I did just that."
Ciprian Crețu
Fulbright Student Researcher, 2019-2020
"My Fulbright visit at Rutgers has offered amazing opportunities not only to present my work in the area of Human-Animal Interactions to some of the faculties of Rutgers University and SSW students, but also to establish valuable connections for future collaborations."
Alina Rusu
Fulbright Visiting Scholar, 2017-2018
"I know that being an educator has never been easy, all the more now, during the peculiar times we all live. Yet, I have always believed in the power of the word connection, and by it, I mean cascading knowledge, learning from each other, sharing, and coming up with the best solutions. I firmly believe that the future of this world is in the hands of educators, no matter where they live and work."
Nadina Nicolici
Fulbright TEA, Fall 2019