Nathalie Halcrow, who will receive a B.A. in English and French from the UI this May, is the winner of a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship to Côte d’Ivoire for 2016-17.

Nathalie Halcrow, who will receive a B.A. in English and French from the UI this May, is the winner of a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship to Côte d’Ivoire for 2016-17. Having grown up in a French speaking household in the U.S., Nathalie plans to use her experiences as a bicultural individual and as a teacher to help empower Ivoirian students to think through their own identity issues as they continue their education. In addition to teaching English in Côte d’Ivoire, she also plans to organize a creative writing group that will explore a fusion of American and West African written and oral traditions.

Hometown: Orange, California

Degree and field of study: B.A. in English literary studies and French literature and culture (University of Iowa)

What will be the focus of your teaching?

Teaching English to high school students in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

What drew you to this field of study?

I would like to contribute to providing students with equal opportunities to learn and develop career opportunities, domestically and abroad.

How do you see this Fulbright grant advancing your work?

This grant will allow me to expand my knowledge of educational needs in developing countries.  By working directly with students, I will also gain insight into the best ways to develop programs and lesson plans that address those needs.

How do you envision this will change your life?

Very broadly! I am certain that doing a Fulbright will impact my perspectives on inter-cultural and interracial relations, as well as my appreciation of diverse social values.  No other program could possibly offer such an opportunity to develop my professional and personal skills in teaching, cultural competence, and community engagement.

Would you have any advice for future students interested in pursuing a Fulbright?

Do not be daunted by the lengthy application process or the blunt advice you receive!  Always listen, but be confident in your ability to learn from each step and deal with the task at hand.

The highly competitive Fulbright Program, created by U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright in 1946 and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, provides grants annually for international research and teaching in an effort to foster global partnership and cultural exchange. For more information on applying for a Fulbright through the University of Iowa, visit our Fulbright page.