National Association of Social Workers

Social Work Exchange

Fulbright Scholars teach and learn abroad

By Paul R. Pace, News Staff

Social worker Chathapuram Ramanathan, who has a private practice in Michigan, lights the traditional Indian Lamp at the inauguration ceremony for the National Conference on Social Work at the Roshini Milaya School of Social Work in India. Ramanathan recently spent six months in India as a Fulbright-Nehru visiting lecturer.

Many social workers have been selected to represent the U.S. in the prestigious Fulbright Scholar Program, which promotes mutual understanding and goodwill among foreign nations.

The Fulbright Program is the international educational exchange sponsored by the U.S. government. In operation since 1946, nearly 310,000 people have been awarded the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

For Jessica Ritter, associate professor in the Department of Social Work at Pacifica University in Oregon, the opportunity to be a Fulbright Scholar seemed out of reach at first.

“I applied thinking there was no way I would be accepted since I am a relatively new scholar, but I decided to throw my hat out there anyway,” Ritter said. “I figured the worst that could happen is that I would get turned down and would have to apply again later.”

Instead, she learned her proposal — to gain insight into Sweden’s social welfare system and social work profession and to conduct research — had been accepted.

“It felt very surreal to come to terms with the fact that I would be leaving my job as a professor for one semester and living in Sweden for four months,” she said.

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From July 2012 NASW News. © 2012 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. NASW News articles may be copied for personal use, but proper notice of copyright and credit to the NASW News must appear on all copies made. This permission does not apply to reproduction for advertising, promotion, resale, or other commercial purposes.