UK College of Communication and Information Faculty Awarded Fulbright Scholarship in Macedonia

University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information faculty members Bobi Ivanov and Kimberly Parker have been selected to participate in the Fulbright Scholars Program for the 2019-2020 academic year.

The program awards Ivanov and Parker with the opportunity to spend two semesters at South East European University (SEEU) in Skopje and Tetovo, Macedonia.

“It is an honor to be selected as a Fulbright Scholar and we are almost giddy, to be honest, that we are here,” Parker said.

The first semester includes teaching a course in business communication and providing guest lectures across campus in courses such as principles of marketing, marketing management (doctoral level course), research methodology (doctoral and master level sections), introduction to communication science, intercultural communication, and culture of English speaking countries, among other courses. In their second semester at SEEU, Ivanov and Parker will be conducting a research project titled Effectiveness of Inoculation Strategy in Multi-Cultural Developing Country, which is focused on efficacy of inoculation with Albanian and Macedonian populations.

During their time at SEEU, Ivanov and Parker hope to immerse themselves into the culture of Macedonia.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for us and our family to enrich our global perspective and understanding,” Parker said. “We are excited to meet new people with unique experiences from ours and learn their stories.”

Ivanov and Parker also hope to bring new cultural sensitivity, depth and richness back to their students.

“We hope that we are able to share what we learn during this time with our students at UK. We hope to return as better people, teachers and scholars as a result of our time in Macedonia,” Ivanov said.

At UK, Ivanov is a professor in the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication. Parker serves as an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Media in the College of Communication and Information.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program designed to forge lasting connections between people of the United States with those in other countries. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has given more than 390,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.