New Fulbright students share their experience at TTU

Jose Ardivilla, Ph.D. student in Fine Arts from the Philippines

Can you describe the experience of being a Fulbright student?

Fulbright has allowed me to engage with students from different parts of the world. I have met Fulbright scholars from Zimbabwe and Trinidad here at Texas Tech and we have developed a series of sustained conversations about being a foreign graduate student here in Lubbock, where there are so many differences between this city and where we come from. Beyond that, we have been discussing possible projects between our nations, with Texas Tech as our focal point and platform for our collaborative research. Fulbright also has organized enrichment workshops that allowed Fulbright scholars to get to know our host country's issues. At these events, Fulbright scholars are able to explore how we view our own nations' place in this world, as well as America's. These discussions of Fulbright scholars' often bewildering experiences transplanting ourselves to America helps us appreciate our own cultures as well as realize that America is a massive network of cultures that needs more cultural exchange like the Fulbright program for America to remain vital in its global place.

Why did you decide to come to Texas Tech?

I chose Texas Tech Ph.D. in Fine Arts for its longevity and endurance. There are only a handful of universities in the USA that offer a Ph.D. in Fine Arts and Texas Tech is among the oldest programs. I had been eyeing this program for several years and it remained a pipe dream until I was fortunate enough to be selected by Fulbright and to be granted admission to this program. The Ph.D. program in Fine Arts at Texas Tech aims for its students to become more involved in their practices by expanding our borders, so to speak. The interdisciplinary nature of the Ph.D. program in Fine Arts has exposed me to other art forms that had been cordoned off from my practice before. I value the exchanges with my colleagues from Theater, Dance, and Music because seeking out connectivity that might produce new trajectories is what makes the arts be truly alive.

What have been some of your favorite experiences at Texas Tech?

I come from Manila in the Philippines and that city's population has more than 13 million people. Space is a privilege and mobility is a luxury where I come from. Lubbock is all about open spaces, which gave me a different sensory experience. Among my favorite things to do at Texas Tech is to walk around this vast campus and look at the numerous pieces of public art. Texas Tech's Public Art Collection offers me a vision of art not just as mere decoration, but art as testament to the different cultures and narratives brewing in these enormous flat lands of West Texas and in America writ large.

Ultimately, what I appreciate most about Texas Tech is its people. The professors I have had challenged several notions, the friends I met have transformed my approach to art, and the staff have been crucial to my peace of mind. Many universities boast about their excellent infrastructure, and while Texas Tech is no laggard in that aspect, it is the people I have met and interacted with here that have made this experience far richer than I anticipated.

What are your future goals?

Getting a Ph.D. in Fine Arts would be the primary goal here because there are only few nations that offer this degree. Once I get that, I will fly back to teach at the University of the Philippines Diliman's College of Fine Arts. Perhaps, Texas Tech's ultimate legacy to me is to help change directions for the approach in the study and practice of Fine Arts back in my country.

Gugulethu Moyo, Ph.D. student in Nutrition Sciences from Zimbabwe

Can you describe the experience of being a Fulbright student?

At the surface a Fulbright student is meant to be a “cultural ambassador” for their home country while also learning more about their host country and developing academically and professionally. In addition to learning something new about America, Texas or TTU on an almost daily basis, being a Fulbright student has allowed me to meet other Fulbright's, highly accomplished young people from all over the world in a wide range of fields like composers, lawyers, programmers and future politicians. Nothing is as eye opening or as intellectually stimulating as having conversations with such a diverse range of people. The one thing that has stood out for me about my Fulbright experience so far is that it has opened my eyes to the things that I didn't know- I didn't know. Knowing that you do not know something is good because you can look for the answer. I believe that this experience has opened me up to more truths I need to seek, ideas to explore, and questions to ask. In doing so I can tell that there is a gradual shift in the way I frame and conceptualize ideas and experiences, which is something I can attribute to my experience as a Fulbright student.

Why did you decide to come to Texas Tech?

Texas Tech has a thriving community nutrition program that has a strong focus on food security and nutrition in Africa, with projects in several countries such as South Africa, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Kenya. I was drawn to the school because of this program. When I was searching for schools online, every blogpost, advice column, and Ph.D.-related website stressed the importance of looking for a school with a program that has a focus of interest. Upon graduation, I am keen to focus my work on improving food security and nutrition in developing countries, particularly in Africa, so the Texas Tech Nutritional Science Ph.D. program in Community Nutrition was a good match for me.

What have been some of your favorite experiences at Texas Tech?

Most of my favorite experiences at Texas Tech involve the conversations I have had with colleagues, friends, and classmates, usually over a meal. I was surprised by how diverse the student body is here, whenever my community nutrition lab gets together it looks like a scene from a United Nations event, with everyone from my supervisor to each student representing a different part of the planet. As one can imagine, in a field like community nutrition, with so many cultural, gender, and religious nuances in different countries, there is always something new whenever someone does a presentation or shares experiences from their respective countries.

What are your future goals?

There is need to build a critical mass of Ph.D.'s/researchers in Africa, because currently the continent only produces a tiny amount towards the world's research output. My main goal is to help address this, both through teaching and research to help build the capacity of community nutritionists working throughout Zimbabwe. I aim to lead rigorous large-scale studies that directly influence program implementation and policy. I would like to see more community nutrition interventions leverage upon the unharnessed potential of indigenous food knowledge and traditional food systems in the development of sustainable homegrown solutions to the nutrition challenges we face as a country and continent. There is a major gap in documentation of Zimbabwean food culture and I desire to be a part of bridging that gap.

Mikaela Pisani Leal, Master's student in Data Science from Uruguay

Can you describe the experience of being a Fulbright student?

Being a Fulbright student means being part of a community, which allowed me to meet people around the world, as well as meeting people from different backgrounds and different cultures. I learned a lot from others and I had the opportunity to share my culture. Fulbright gave me the opportunity to grow personally and professionally.

Why did you decide to come to Texas Tech?

I chose Texas Tech because the program fits with what I was looking for. In addition, the fact that living here is cheaper than other places influenced in my final decision. I am very happy with my choice and I am enjoying what is left of this experience.

What have been some of your favorite experiences at Texas Tech?

One of my favorite experiences at Texas Tech was going hiking in Palo Duro Canyon, near the city. I went there a couple of times and it gave me freedom. It is a beautiful place where you can forget about classes and schedules just enjoy the nature and the view. What is more, one of the most valuable things that I take with me from this experience is the amazing friends that I made.

What are your future goals?

When I come back to Uruguay, I would like to share what I have learned and encourage other people to apply for this scholarship. Encourage them to travel and seek adventure. I am surprised about the things that we can achieve when we challenge ourselves.

Marcin Grzechowiak, Master's student in Data Science from Poland

Can you describe the experience of being a Fulbright student?

Being a Fulbright student gives me an invaluable opportunity to meet people from around the world. During my scholarship, I met people from all continents who originate from almost 60 countries. All those people gave me a possibility to look on common issues from different angles, which enriched me as a person as well as my understanding about the world.

Why did you decide to come to Texas Tech?

The reason why I decided to come to Texas Tech was the interesting Master's curriculum, which combines knowledge of business, statistics, and programming into one Data Science program. Outside of educational reasons, I wanted to experience something different from things I was used to and Texas sounded to me like a setting, which is difficult to catch in Europe.

What have been some of your favorite experiences at Texas Tech?

I enjoyed spending time on campus and exercising in the well-equipped Recreation Center. The large amount of available sport classes let me relax and keep a balance between school assignments and staying healthy.

What are your future goals?

At Texas Tech I acquired the extensive knowledge which now I would like to apply solving real-world problems while still broadening my education in Data Science field.

Sandra Figaro-Henry, Ed.D. student in Instructional Technology from Trinidad and Tobago

Can you describe the experience of being a Fulbright student?

This has been a phenomenal journey so far. From the start, the Fulbright Gateway meeting in Reno, Nevada and getting to know new friends from all parts of the world was an epic experience. My roommate was from South Africa and we connected on so many levels, but most of all by realizing that we had so much in common. My little island, Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, was so similar in food, vegetation and climate, that it was unbelievable to us both. It made me reflect that if all nations could appreciate the similarities, and not the harp on differences, we could engender so much harmony.

At Texas Tech, my fellow Mighty Fulbrighters (a name we gave our group) and I celebrate monthly. We share our experiences and encourage each other when we gather with Caribbean dishes. We especially treasure our International Advisor Dr. Justin Simundson. He has been there for us at every turn and knowing we have someone seeking our interests relieves any stress we experience. This enables us to do our best.

Why did you decide to come to Texas Tech?

My decision to attend Texas Tech was a result of Skype and phone conversations with my academic advisor Dr. Fethi Inan, and written correspondence from the Dean. I had never met these people face-to-face, but interacting with them at a distance, made me take my decision to attend. Dr. Inan sounded so calm and welcoming that I knew that this was the place I wanted do my Ed.D. in Educational Technology. I also appreciated the possibility of getting credit from courses pursued at the M.Sc. level.

What have been some of your favorite experiences at Texas Tech?

The campus itself is so beautiful and safe. Strolling from my apartment to class makes me so thankful to the Fulbright Organization for affording me the opportunity of this splendid campus and the worthwhile learnings experiences. The lecturers like Dr. Siwatu are amazingly knowledgeable and kind. Bonding with my fellow Fulbright peers has also been enjoyable.

What are your future goals?

I plan to return to my home university, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, and begin a Ph.D program in Educational Technology, using some of the elements I have learnt here. I also plan to continue my strong liaisons with the Ministry of Education in Trinidad. If the rest of the courses and experiences here are similar to what I have experienced so far, I am excited for the future.