Source(s):
Jimmy Cheek jgcheek@ifas.ufl.edu, 352-392-1961
Jeffrey Luzar jluzar@ufl.edu, 352-846-1634
Christine Browne-Nunez ndovu@ufl.edu, 352-846-0643
GAINESVILLE, Fla.—Two graduate students in the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences — Christine Browne-Nunez majoring in wildlife ecology and conservation, and Jeffrey Luzar majoring in interdisciplinary ecology — have received Fulbright Fellowships for 2004-2005.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the one-year fellowships provide students with the opportunity for research and graduate education in a foreign country.
“We are proud of these students for receiving competitive Fulbright Fellowships; it is a great accomplishment for them,” said Jimmy Cheek, dean of the college. “Their talent reflects the quality of our programs, students and faculty in UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
“Their achievements will encourage more of our graduate students to compete for Fulbright Fellowships and similar awards in the future, further demonstrating the exceptional quality of our students,” Cheek said.
Christine Browne-Nunez, a doctoral student from Independence, Mo., will study conflicts between humans and elephants around Amboseli National Park in Kenya. She specializes in human dimensions of wildlife conservation with concentrations in tropical conservation and development, and African studies.
“I applied for a Fulbright Fellowship because the program promotes cross-cultural interaction and understanding. Because of this focus, I believe my project was a good fit, and it will improve our understanding about the values and attitudes regarding wildlife conservation in a different cultural setting knowledge that is lacking in this field,” Browne Nunez said.
“I am honored to be a recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship because it is a prestigious award. It validates the importance of my research topic and enables me to pursue a long-standing dream. Many Fulbright alumni have gone on to enjoy leadership roles in their respective fields, and I hope to continue this trend in wildlife conservation.”
There were 306 applicants for this region of Africa, and only 50 students were selected. Browne-Nunez received a bachelor’s degree in education from University of Missouri and a master’s degree in science from Colorado State University. She will complete her doctoral degree at UF in spring 2006.
Luzar, originally from Indiana, is a doctoral student in interdisciplinary ecology specializing in tropical conservation and development. His research on the impact of road construction and deforestation takes him to Brazil to study a new highway linking Brazil and Peru.
“Receiving a Fulbright award allows me to conduct the in-depth research required for my field of study,” Luzar said. “On a personal level, it is a great honor to be accepted among the ranks of Fulbright fellows.”
There were 104 applicants to study in Brazil, and only 14 were chosen. Luzar received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, his master’s degree from the University of Kentucky and plans to complete his doctoral degree at UF in spring 2005.
The Fulbright program was established in 1946 and is open to anyone who has a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. More than 140 countries worldwide participate in the program, and approximately 1,000 grants are awarded to American students each year.
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