Miah Clark, who will receive a master of library and information sciences from the University of Iowa in May 2024, is the winner of a Fulbright Study/Research grant in interdisciplinary studies to New Zealand for 2024-25.
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
Degree: Master of library and information science
Could you give us a brief synopsis of what you'll be doing with your Fulbright?
With my Fulbright, I'll be pursuing a master's degree in Indigenous studies with a Pacific Islands focus at the Victoria University of Wellington. As part of my degree, I will also be pursuing an internship with one of the major galleries, libraries, archives, or museums of Wellington, New Zealand.
How do you envision this will influence your life/future career?
The Fulbright and the degree I will be earning as part of my award will foster my formalized education in Pacific Islands Indigenous cultures and histories that will support my career as a Pacific studies librarian. This career will allow me to promote culturally informed collections management in libraries and to foster positive experiences and opportunities for Pacific Islanders through library use.
What advice do you have for future students interested in applying for a Fulbright?
My advice for future Fulbright applicants would be to start your application process as early as possible, and to be confident in connecting with professionals at the University of Iowa or abroad who will be willing to help you throughout this process. Never be afraid to cold email!
Were there experiences at the UI that inspired you to pursue a Fulbright?
In my own department, the School of Library and Information Science, my professors and advisors have been nothing short of supportive of my culturally specific career goals and interests. It was the support and freedom I have been given in that program that inspired me to take seriously the possibility of working as a librarian abroad or visiting the South Pacific to inform my future career.
Are there individuals you'd like to thank for their investment in this process?
I would like to first and foremost thank Fulbright Program Advisor Karen Wachsmuth and former Fulbright Program Assistant Ari Natarina, for their endless support and guidance throughout the Fulbright application process, as well as my Fulbright Faculty Advisors, Professors Kathleen Newman and Melissa Tully, and Fulbright Program Assistant Sylvia Dean, for their feedback and help with my application materials. Additional thanks are owed to Dr. Annie Te One at the Victoria University of Wellington; Martin Gengenbach at the National Library of New Zealand; Professors Micah Bateman, Colleen Theisen, and Iulian Vamanu from the School of Library and Information Science; everyone from UI Special Collections and Archives; Professor Erica Prussing from the Department of Anthropology ; Professor Florence Boos from the Department English; and to my family!
EXPLORE THE MANY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES OPEN TO UI STUDENTS AND ALUMNI
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.