World-traveling “Fulbrighter” encourages kids to follow in her footsteps

Paula Faulkner, Ph.D.

A two-time recipient of the Fulbright Association’s “Fulbright in the Classroom” grant is using her latest award to share her overseas experiences with local first-grade students.

Paula Faulkner, Ph.D., professor of agricultural education, is one of several “Fulbrighters” – alumni of the Fulbright Scholars program and advocates of international travel – who were awarded $750 grants to speak to kindergarten-through- college classrooms around the country about their travels.

The Fulbright scholarship is the world’s most widely-recognized and prestigious international exchange program.

Faulkner, a 2010 Fulbright-Hays Scholar and current board member of the N.C. Alumni Fulbright Association, traveled to Kuwait, Quatar and the United Arab Emirates with the program, the result of a close friendship she made while completing her Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University.

“My time at Penn State was one of my first times being around so many international individuals, like my fellow peers in the classroom,” said Faulkner. “One of my peers was a gentleman from Kuwait and, because of our working together in classes and learning about each other’s cultures, we became close friends and stayed in touch over the years. After I graduated, I saw that Fulbright-Hays was offering travel to the Middle East and Kuwait, and I thought it would be a great idea to apply and visit him at his country.

“Kuwait was our last country in the six-week experience; we spoke with a U.S. Ambassador in Kuwait, we went to a large military base, visited an oil company, and outside of the Fulbright experience, my friend, who now teaches at Kuwait University, introduced me to his wife, his mother and his children, as well as his students. It was a wonderful experience.”

Faulkner brought the students passport booklets and two maps to color.

Faulkner received one of the inaugural Fulbright in the Classroom grants last year and presented to three schools: Alderman Elementary’s first grade class in Greensboro; Alpha Learning Academy’s fifth grade class in Florida; and undergraduate and graduate classes at N.C. A&T. Topics for each presentation, Faulkner said, were tailored towards her audience.

“The elementary students, I discussed animals, foods, and clothing in the Middle East – topics on their level,” said Faulkner. “At the college level, I could discuss social and political aspects. I was actually in Quatar when they were bidding on the World Cup – which we’re having now – and was able to see the issues with migrant workers. To the college students, I presented more about those issues.”

Faulkner received her second Fulbright grant in June. She returned to Alderman Elementary on Nov. 21, this time in person, with PowerPoint presentations and a display table to showcase her many souvenirs, including a picture of the Grand Mosque, camel figurines, and a replica of a wind tower. For the first graders, she purchased little passport booklets in which they could write their names and a location they would like to visit.

“One of my colleagues in Guilford County who teaches at the school said it was beneficial for her students to have a visual of what they’ve been learning in the classroom. it benefits the students to actually see what they’re learning.”

The lasting impact she wanted to leave as a Fulbright Scholar, Faulkner said, is “the importance of being a global citizen”, and not only learning about different cultures but being receptive, and respectful, of what they can teach.

“As an African-American individual, my experience as a Fulbrighter was beneficial. So few minority students take advantage of study abroad programs or international experiences. These presentations gave the students, at the grade school and college level, an example of someone who looks like them who has traveled the world.”