Anna Makowski Receives National Fulbright Scholarship to Teach in Columbia, South America

Colombia's Perfect Blend: Idaho Graduate Fuses Education and Cultural Passions

May 12, 2008

MOSCOW, Idaho – Newly minted University of Idaho graduate Anna Makowski has a passion for teaching and mentoring. Throughout her academic career, she's given of her time to elementary school students in a poor neighborhood in Santiago, Chile; tutored other fellow Idaho students in statistics, English and Spanish; and served as a mentor to various student groups.

Makowski, from Beaverton, Ore., also has a zeal for diverse cultural experiences. She has worked in a Mexican Consulate, studied abroad in India and the Dominican Republic, served on the International Student Council at the University of Idaho, volunteered at an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico, and studied Spanish, French and Hindi languages.

Now, Makowski has been awarded a Fulbright grant to teach English in Colombia, which will allow her to combine her passions. With dual degrees in Spanish and political science, she hopes to expand her activities abroad to include focus work with children and to research growing eco-tourism and/or sustainable coffee farming.

“Anna will bring impressive academic strengths, mentorship experience and study abroad experiences to her Fulbright study and teaching," said Stephan Flores, director of the University Honors Program and associate professor of English. "Her honors seminars on emerging nations and energy policies, with related coursework in international politics and in philosophy, provide her with distinctive perspectives to share in this cross-cultural exchange.” In addition to her two degrees, Makowski received the Honors Program Certificate – the highest level of distinction for honors coursework completed.

Although she initially applied for an opportunity in Uruguay and was named an alternate, she was happy to accept the position offered by Colombia.

"I am growing more excited and intrigued about the country the more I research, given its colonial past, violent recent history and all the progress it has made in the past few years," Makowski said. "I have heard that the people are very warm and welcoming, that the natural beauty is stunning, and that the way of life is very pleasant. I am quite interested to get firsthand experience in one of Latin America's most dynamic countries."

“Anna is not only an accomplished student and scholar, but is an individual who goes out of her way to experience new cultures," said Inga Aesoph, international adviser. "In her time at the University of Idaho, her participation in study abroad programs proved her flexibility as an international traveler and learner. She truly is a global citizen and I am very proud that she will be representing the university through her work with the Fulbright program.”

As for what the future holds, Makowski is keeping her options open. "I know Colombia will give me opportunities that I am not even aware of at this point, so I'm going to stay open to that and not make any concrete plans yet for when I get back," she said. "I likely will return to school, either for graduate work or law school, and am interested in studying diplomacy. Really, though, Colombia will be a life-changing and hopefully formative experience, so I'm just going to take the future one step at a time."

Makowski will depart for Colombia in early August, and will remain abroad for the academic year.

The Fulbright program is the largest U.S. international exchange program that offers opportunities for students, scholars and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide. Established in 1946 by the U.S. Congress, it was an effort led by Sen. J. William Fulbright to "enable the government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries." The program is funded by annual Congressional appropriations. Recipients of Fulbright Scholar awards are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement and because they have demonstrated extraordinary leadership potential in their fields.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Makowski will join numerous University of Idaho faculty and students that are alumni of the program.