WASHINGTON (Aug. 11, 2017)—Cultures came together at Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) as the school hosted 23 German students through the Fulbright Summer Seminar.
The prestigious program is held at two universities in the United States each summer, and the 2017 hosts are W&J and Virginia Tech. Participants at W&J stayed on campus from July 24 through Aug. 10.
“This program highlights W&J’s ability to offer high-quality international seminars and demonstrates W&J’s commitment to international education,” said Michael Shaughnessy, associate dean of graduate studies and international programs.
Corey Young, director of W&J’s Center for Energy Policy and Management, led a seminar for the students on “American Society and Culture: Reimagining the Rust Belt, Sustainability as a New Tradition.” The program also took German students to local attractions for learning opportunities and leisure, including the Bradford House, the Carnegie Museums, and touring fracking pads, which are vital to the region’s Marcellus Shale gas industry.
Shaughnessy was instrumental in bringing the German Fulbright program to W&J after he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship in 2016.
“This came from my work as a Fulbright Scholar in France. We had a meeting with the French and German contingents of the Fulbright Seminars and W&J’s participation arose from those conversations,” he said.
W&J was selected for the seminar, and the topic was chosen to reflect American culture and history through the lens of the local area, Shaughnessy said.
Last year, W&J was named a top producer of Fulbright scholars and the College will continue its work with the Fulbright Commission to provide international educational opportunities. In addition, Shaughnessy said the school plans to host a group from China in conjunction with the Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment (LIASE) grant in the future.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
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