“As a Fulbright scholar, I have been blessed to be a part of one of the most effective and wide reaching international programs ever developed by any government.”
What was the focus of your Fulbright work?
It has varied from seminars (India 2004, Poland 2007 and China 2009) in which a group of scholars engage in month-long tours and dialogues with diverse groups of scholars and policymakers in the host country to year-long stints where I have taught and conducted research to participation in developmental work in which I have reviewed the applications of future Fulbrighters. As the college’s Fulbright coordinator, I also keep abreast of new programs emanating from the Fulbright commission which might benefit our students, faculty and administrators.
Did your Fulbright experience meet your expectations?
Successful participation in a Fulbright experience requires an open and flexible heart and mind. More often than not, it is the unexpected that is the most memorable. In India, I marveled at the diversity of skills possessed by my Indian hosts. Almost without exception each scholar had not only mastered a field of study (economics, world literature, et al) but the scholar also possessed superior artistic ability (musical, dance, writing). And, in Central Asia, I was surprised at how much the Soviet Union was missed from the fabric of everyday life.
How has your Fulbright experience changed the way you teach/work?
I simply have a wider berth of information and experiences to draw from in teaching my classes and working with colleagues. Immediately following each experience, I have conducted one or more college-wide presentations (typically in the Appleton Museum) and incorporated learning modules in my courses. My chronicles (blogs and articles) and photo collections have also served to inform local and scholarly communities on what I have seen and accomplished.
What was the most significant moment in your Fulbright experience?
For each case, it was the moment of selection that provided the passport for a transformative experience. This entrée stretches beyond such experiences as Christmas Day on the Great Wall of China, a summer morn at the Taj Mahal or an afternoon at Auschwitz. |
Patrick Fleming
India 2004, Poland 2007,
China 2009
(photo gallery)
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