BUFFALO, NY – Canisius University will host the fall 2016 conference of the Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the U.S. Fulbright Association on Friday, October 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Science Hall located at the corner of Main Street and Jefferson Avenue.
The conference, entitled “Fulbright and Social Activism in the 21st Century,” is open to students, faculty and professionals interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholarship to study abroad for the 2017-2018 academic year, as well as visiting Fulbright scholars and alumni.
The keynote speaker will be Maryam Bibi, founder and chief executive of Khwendo Kor, which focuses on the development of women, children, and strong families in the remote areas of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan.
Before establishing Khwendo Kor, Bibi held several leadership positions with GTZ, the international development enterprise of the German government. She was involved in policy-level decision-making around efficient energy technologies, implementing community-based training programs and designing educational materials for Afghan refugees.
Bibi’s efforts for women and children’s development have been recognized nationally and internationally. In 2005, she was one of 1000 women nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, in 2001, the International Labor Organization presented Bibi with the Human Rights Award, and in 2000, the UN recognized Bibi with its Recognition of Services Award.
At the conference, members of the board of directors of the Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the U.S. Fulbright Association will share their Fulbright educational experiences and respond to questions from the audience. Conference attendees can learn more about the different types of Fulbright grants available and the application process during breakout sessions.
Founded by Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946, the Fulbright program is the largest academic exchange program in the world today. The program was established to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge and skills. Since the program’s inception in 1947, more than 100,000 Americans and another 200,000 international citizens have participated in the Fulbright program.
The Fulbright Association was formed in 1977 as a private, non-profit and nonpolitical organization whose members are Fulbright program alumni and friends of international education. The Association has 6,000 members today and 150 institutional members. There are more than 60 chapters in the U.S.
For more information, contact Christopher Lee, PhD, associate professor of religious studies and theology and director of the Graduate Scholarship Office at (716) 888-2784 or @email.
Canisius University is one of 28 Jesuit universities in the nation and the premier private university in Western New York.
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