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F U L B R I G H T S O F F E R G LO B A L V I E W
Dr. Steve Burg researched public history during his Fulbright in Sweden.
It’s been a few years and about 4,000 miles since Dr. Steve Burg took his last fika. The Swedish coffee break occurs at the same time every day, giving employees a chance to relax for a moment during work. That took some getting used to when Burg spent the fall 2013 semester in Sweden as a Fulbright scholar. Americans are not known for taking breaks, but Burg strived to embrace the lifestyle. Upon his return home, he adopted a new
motto—lagom—which is Swedish for “everything in moderation.” “The Fulbright was absolutely life changing,” said Burg, professor of history. “The opportunity to live abroad and be deeply immersed in another country’s educational system, how they do things, and the way they do things—I think about it a lot.” Burg is one of fourteen Fulbright scholars and students selected from Shippensburg over the last nine years. He taught and researched in the University of Gothenburg’s Department of Historical Studies. The latest recipient, Reece Dolbin ’18, was awarded the Fulbright US Student Program grant this spring. He will spend a year in Colombia teaching English to university students. Ship leads the State System in Fulbright scholars and boasts recipients for faculty, staff, and student grants. The educational exchange program has paved the way for travel, extended research, new careers, nonprofit work, further education, and in some cases, permanent residence abroad. Ethan Goldbach ’14 spent his Fulbright in Malaysia as an English teaching assistant (ETA). Toward the end of his grant, he expressed to his students how sad he was to leave. “They said, ‘We don’t want another ETA, we want an Ethan.’ That touched my heart.” Goldbach extended his grant, staying in Malaysia for two years. “Because of the Fulbright and the connections I made, it changed the trajectory of my career and led to a job in Bangladesh.” Today, he’s an English language instructor at Asia University for Women. “The Fulbright Program helps to show the quality of education at Shippensburg University and the quality of our faculty at Ship,” said Dr. Jonathan Skaff, director of international studies who oversees the Fulbright program at Ship. “This demonstrates we are a university with global perspective. It’s a prestigious award, and a symbol of success.”
Educational Ambassadors The Fulbright Scholar Program is an educational and cultural exchange program. Launched in 1926, the program awards 8,000 grants annually in partnership with nearly
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SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
