FRIENDS OF FULBRIGHT FINLAND
Friends of Fulbright Finland Carves Out a Unique Profile For the past 10 years Fulbright Finland’s American alumni program has been developing steadily. It has achieved a unique status in the worldwide Fulbright family, offering a broad range of opportunities for alumni to stay involved with Fulbright in Finland after returning home to the U.S. The mission of Fulbright Finland relies strongly on partnerships created with a variety of entities sharing Marlene Broemer
common interests to promote a wider exchange of knowledge and professional talents through educational contacts between Finland and the United States. Friends of Fulbright Finland, FoFF, is a key partner to this engagement. Alumni are welcome to offer ideas for continued growth and encourage everyone to stay
FRIENDS OF FULBRIGHT FINLAND (FOFF) MET FOR ALUMNI GATHERING in Minneapolis in
involved and in contact. Periodic emails
May during the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study conference. Seven alumni
through the Fulbright Finland message
and grantees came together for a Happy Hour for Fulbright Finland. “It was wonderful to meet
list provide updates on the latest FoFF
Fulbright Finnish and Language Teaching Assistants, who came to talk about their experiences
activities and Finnish Fulbright projects.
teaching Finnish language in Minnesota and Indiana. Karen Erickson, a Fulbright scholar from
The newest initiatives of FoFF are
1959 also came to share her book and give us all some perspective on how far, broad and wide
numerous, including the Centennial
the Fulbright experience in Finland has been and continues to be”, says the organizer of the event,
Ambassadors, the Welcome Network,
Marlene Broemer.
a fund raising campaign for the FoFF Alumni Enrichment Fund and the award-
Fulbright program, representing all the
Healy, Alaska, 2013 Distinguished Ful-
ing of the 2nd Alumni Enrichment Award.
different grant programs and residing
bright Award in Teaching to University of
Alumni have also been very supportive of
throughout the USA. Council members
Jyväskylä, Ben Zeller, Lake Forest, Illi-
the Fulbright Finland Centennial Fund.
are appointed for two years. A call for
nois, 2012 Scholar grantee to Åbo Aka-
Alumni gatherings have provided ven-
consideration will be made again through
demi.
ues for reunions and sharing memories of
the Fulbright-Finland message list in
the Finnish experience. The recent Arctic
early 2018.
2017-2019 term: Hank Frostburg,
Maryland,
Bullamore
2000
Scholar
Thank you to Bradley Boehringer,
Grantee to University of Turku, Joan
from the active involvement of alumni in
John Helling, Kenneth Kolson, Suzanne
Kluwe, Anchorage, Alaska, 1999 Gradu-
the planning and execution of a compli-
Louis, and Paul Majkut for their service
ate Student to Metsäntutkimuslaitos,
cated, intensive program.
to the alumni community through Coun-
Rovaniemi, Mike
cil participation 2015-2017.
Ohio, 2010 Scholar Grantee to University
Study Tour to Alaska benefitted greatly
Key to shaping the direction of Friends of Fulbright Finland is its Alumni Coun-
Loovis, Cleveland,
of Jyväskylä.
cil, created in 2015 as a working group to
Current FoFF Council
further support and develop the Ameri-
2016-2018 term: Nancy Commins, Louis-
More information on Friends of Fulbright Finland at
can alumni program. The council consists
ville, Colorado, 2011 Fulbright-University
www.fulbright.fi/en/alumni/foff
of six American alumni of the Finnish
of Turku Scholar Award, Karen Martin,
Casie Hermansson Receives the Alumni Enrichment Award Professor Casie Hermansson, the Fulbright-University
Turku
bright opportunities in Finland.
Scholar
“The Fulbright was life changing
Awardee 2014 is the second recipient of
for me and my children, and the recur-
the Friends of Fulbright Finland Alumni
ring opportunities to extend and even
Enrichment Award. The award supports
deepen the experience have been invalu-
U.S. alumni who work to deepen coopera-
able. Plans are underway now for my next
tion with their Finnish hosts. Professor
teaching stint in Finland in late 2019. I
Hermansson has kept her Finnish Ful-
am also facilitating two U.S. colleagues
bright connection active over the years
to come to Finland in the next year. The
and has plans to continue and develop
impact of a Fulbright is one that keeps on
Casie Hermansson is Professor of
further the ongoing collaboration while
giving!”
English at Pittsburg State University.
also acting as an ambassador of the Ful-
18 — WWW.FULBRIGHT.FI
of