Rhodes alumna Katie Klein, who graduated in 2013 with a B.A. in international studies and a minor in religious studies, has been selected for a 2014-2015 Fulbright U.S. Student Award to Taiwan. She joins senior Isabel Buonopane who will travel to Turkey as a Fulbright student grantee.
Klein, who is from Starkville, MS, will serve as a cultural ambassador for the United States while teaching English and American history and culture to Taiwanese students. She will be stationed in Kinmen, Taiwan, just off the coast of mainland China.
Rhodes presented Klein with a number of opportunities for exploring her interests in international affairs. After her first year, she participated in a summer study abroad program in Tianjin, China, led by Professor Stephen Ceccoli. A Buckman scholarship allowed her to spend a semester of her junior year studying Mandarin at the Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, China.
In addition, Klein completed internships at FedEx‘s World Headquarters and Department of Commerce offices in Memphis, TN and Guangzhou, China. At Rhodes, she also was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Iota Rho international studies honor society, and Theta Alpha Kappa religion and theology honor society as well as was a member of the Rhodes Orchestra.
The Fulbright Program, America’s highly prestigious international educational exchange sponsor, is administered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright, the program awards grants to students, scholars, administrators and professionals to study, teach, lecture or conduct research abroad.
“I have never been to Taiwan and am looking forward to experiencing the differences between the island and mainland China,” says Klein. “I hope to gain a greater understanding of Taiwan’s unique political and economic position in southeast Asia while at the same time enhance Taiwanese students’ knowledge of American history, culture and language.”