The University of Iowa (UI) is pleased to announce that Carolyn Hartley, associate professor in the UI School of Social Work, has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar to Kosovo for the 2024-25 academic year.
Hartley is among over 800 U.S. citizens who will conduct research and/or teach abroad for the 2024-25 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Fulbright scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions. Fulbright alumni include 61 Nobel Prize laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize recipients, and 40 who have served as a head of state or government.
For her Fulbright project, Hartley will collaborate with state and NGO agencies and University of Prishtina professors in Kosovo, where she’ll conduct a needs assessment to inform training for domestic violence service providers and legal professionals.
In addition to teaching and studying, Fulbright scholars build relationships with people in their host country, and Hartley is motivated by the ways her research will support Kosovo's Ministry of Justice in strengthening capacities to address violence against women as part of their national strategy.
“My research, professional consultation, and training expertise focus on improving legal and social service responses to violence against women,” says Hartley. “Using knowledge gained from my research, I have provided extensive professional training and consultation to victim service providers in the state of Iowa as the academic partner and lead faculty trainer for the Iowa Victim Assistance Academy. I am excited to bring my experience in conducting needs assessments and designing training curricula to Kosovo.”
Additionally, Hartley sees her work in Kosovo as a means of expanding her professional work in her classroom and in the U.S.
“I can bring knowledge about domestic violence and collectivist cultures to help train social work students and victim service professionals working with immigrant populations from collectivist countries in the U.S.,” says Hartley. “I am interested in examining how international human rights conceptualizations of violence against women can enhance domestic violence responses in the U.S. I will also integrate this human rights perspective into courses I teach on interpersonal violence and expand my advocacy and training work through this lens.”
Learn more about the UI resources for applying to the Fulbright Scholar Program
University faculty members at all stages of their careers can apply to become Fulbright Scholars or Fulbright Specialists. Grant recipients can teach, do research abroad, or a combination of both for flexible time periods ranging from two to six weeks to a semester or an entire academic year.
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.