McKendree Education Professor Wins Fulbright Specialist Award

Dr. Darryn Diuguid set to work with faculty, future teachers at the National College of Education in Ho Chi Minh City this summer

Lebanon, IL (01/10/2023) — Dr. Darryn Diuguid, professor of education at McKendree University, recently received the Fulbright Specialist Award during the fall 2022 semester. Administered through the Fulbright Board and United States Department, the award allows interested institutions to bring American citizens abroad for a period of two to six weeks. This is a creative and cost-effective way to access U.S. academics and professionals, who may not be free to come for longer periods as part of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards.

To qualify for the award, one must be approved and selected to be on the Fulbright Specialist roster and then either apply for open positions around the world or write a proposal with a university, which would then be approved by the Fulbright Specialist board. Dr. Diuguid was notified of the award when the U.S. Fulbright Board approved his proposal to work with the National College of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City this coming summer.

"This award means so much to me since it's my second Fulbright assignment in the last five years," Dr. Diuguid said. "The Fulbright is special to me due to its focus on promoting international education."

Dr. Diuguid is no stranger to studying and teaching abroad. His last Fulbright assignment took place in 2017-2018 when he spent nearly half a year at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education teaching and building close connections with students and faculty members alike. This summer, he will be working with faculty and future teachers on topics such as lesson planning, trauma-informed teaching, active learning and more.

In years past, Dr. Diuguid has studied abroad at King's College in London, England, and participated in a one-week study-abroad when a selected group from his middle school studied in and traveled to several cities in Spain. As a professor, he has taken two students to Japan through McKendree's Technos International trip, participated in a study-abroad trip to Ecuador with a McKendree colleague, and engaged in service trips to Jamaica with Dr. Brenda Boudreau, professor of English at McKendree, and Dr. Duane Olson, newly-retired professor of religious studies at McKendree. At home, Dr. Diuguid and his family continues to host international students that he has met during his time abroad.

"I wish that all students had the ability, funds, and desire to visit international locations to experience all that it offers," Dr. Diuguid said.

About the Fulbright Specialist Program

Founded in 2001 by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Exchanges, the Fulbright Specialist Program is a unique opportunity for U.S. academics and established professionals to engage in two- to six-week project-based exchanges at host institutions across the globe. More than 160 countries and other areas participate in the program, with more than 400 specialists in 24 eligible disciplines and project focus areas traveling abroad each year. Over the last 20 years, more than 5,000 individuals have served as Fulbright Specialists, contributing to the program's legacy of creating meaningful global impact, sharing knowledge across communities, fostering collaboration across the globe and improving lives worldwide.

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