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Associate Professor of English Rebekah Buchanan
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WIU Professor Named Fulbright Scholar

January 25, 2018

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MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University Associate Professor of English Rebekah Buchanan has been named a Fulbright Scholar.

Buchanan will travel to Norway for the 2018-19 academic year as part of the U.S.-Norway Fulbright Roving Scholars program, which brings American teachers to the country to spend a year traveling to give presentations, seminars and lectures for teachers and students and to students in teacher training programs.

"I was excited and honored when I found out I had been chosen," said Buchanan. "As a former high school teacher, I am excited to return to the classroom and learn about Norwegian high schools."

Buchanan coordinates the English Education program at Western, and she teaches English Education methods and professional writing courses. She also leads a Harry Potter study abroad course to the United Kingdom and co-directs the Expanding Cultural Diversity Project at WIU.

Prior to coming to WIU in 2011, Buchanan taught high school English, created an alternative high school and designed summer writing programs for middle and high school students.
 
Each year, the U.S.-Norway Fulbright Foundation offers two-three awards for Roving Scholars. Buchanan said she will spend her time traveling to upper secondary schools to give workshops on U.S. youth culture, the role of youth in the civil rights movement, the representation of teenagers in popular culture and workshops for teachers on teaching writing and teaching with technology. Roving Scholars are based in Oslo.

Buchanan said her family will be traveling with her to Norway, where her children will attend Norwegian public schools.

"It will be a great experience for all of us," she said. "I plan on blogging about the experience and mapping the schools I visit so people can learn more about my experience as a Fulbright and visiting Norwegian schools. I hope to be able to Skype with U.S. classrooms, as well, to share the experience."

For more information about the program, visit bit.ly/2Dw2sa2.



Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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