Fulbright Scholars

College of Public Health Professor Carolyn Drews-Botsch receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to teach and research with the Royal College of Surgeons

Mary Cunningham — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:26:33 +0000

College of Public Health Professor Carolyn Drews-Botsch receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to teach and research with the Royal College of Surgeons Mary Cunningham Thu, 06/20/2024 - 13:26

In This Story

Carolyn Drews-Botsch, PhD, MPH

��AV professor Carolyn Drews-Botsch was recognized with the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award in Medical Sciences and will teach and conduct research with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) during the fall of 2024.

Fulbright U.S. Scholars are faculty, researchers, administrators, and established professionals teaching or conducting research in affiliation with institutes abroad. 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 Scholars exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges.

Drews-Botsch, a professor in George Mason's College of Public Health, will collaborate with the faculty at RCSI to on curriculum development its new online master’s program in population health, particularly in epidemiologic methods. She will also conduct research on the impact of amblyopia, colloquially known as “lazy eye,” on children’s lives and health.

Specifically, she will use longitudinal data sets from the U.S. and Ireland whether children with amblyopia get less physical activity and are more likely to become obese than other children. By using data from two countries, the results will be more generalizable to other populations.

“The Fulbright award will allow me to advance important research on amblyopia, which has far-reaching impact—beyond one’s vision,” said Drews-Botsch. “Reading speed, balance, coordination can be impacted—and the hypothesis is that this is causing an increase in obesity in children with this condition.”

More than 800 individuals teach or conduct research abroad through the highly competitive Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program annually. Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in more than 160 countries worldwide. 

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Gamifying everything from history to pain management

Colleen Rich — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 17:45:29 +0000

Gamifying everything from history to pain management Colleen Rich Wed, 09/07/2022 - 13:45

In This Story

Sang Nam

Sang Nam. Photo provided

Sang Nam, the director of Computer Game Design Program in ��AV’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, doesn’t just make games for entertainment, he’s on a mission to make a difference.

Nam has been selected as a Fulbright Specialist Scholar, which lasts for four years.

Ying-Ying Kuo, a fellow Fulbright Specialist and a former Mason instructional designer and learning analyst, thought Nam would be a perfect candidate when asked to recommend someone for the assignment.

"I referred Sang to the Fulbright Specialist program because he was the best person to conduct this project,” said Kuo. Nam applied specifically for the assignment in Tunisia, for which he was selected.

He has been working with game designers and developers in Tunis, Tunisia. The organization that hosted Nam is Tunis International Center for Digital Cultural Economy (TICDCE), under the Ministry of Culture in Tunisia.

“They are game designers and developers in Tunisia, but the whole country is starting in this industry,” said Nam.

Nam’s visit to Tunis consists of two trips, the first of which was in late May.

“I ran a two-week long workshop on game design and development, and the implication of virtual reality,” said Nam.

Sang Nam with his May workshop group in Tunisia. Photo provided

He returns in September to help designers create a virtual reality game focused on the historical site Dar Sebastian, often called the Hammamet Cultural Centre. Nam and the workshop participants visited the historical site to see what they could do to highlight those places using game design.

“It will be educational for youth in Tunisia who play this virtual reality game while walking around this building and learning about their culture,” said Nam.

His work overseas mirrors the work he’s doing with his students at Mason, which includes upcoming projects that focus on concepts such as Serious Games and digital therapeutics.

“Serious Games are not for pure entertainment, but games with serious purposes such as education, simulation, defense, and more,” he said.

The concept of Serious Games can be applied to potential solutions for problems normally approached by other disciplines. This process, Nam said, is called “gamification.”

This is no easy feat, Nam said, but “we want our students to be creative problem solvers. While making a game from scratch, they have to overcome many things. To gamify is to basically use well-working game mechanics and learning why it works or makes the games so engaging. We try to use those mechanics in real life.”

Mason’s Virginia Serious Game Institute (VSGI) will host the international symposium on DTx, digital therapeutics, sponsored by NCSoft, one of the biggest game companies in Korea with Mason Korea. The event will take place at Mason Square (formerly Arlington Campus) on November 9.

Nam describes digital therapeutics as apps or games that can be used for medicinal purposes. “There are prescribed games for ADHD, pain management, and for people’s well-being,” he said.

Nam is working on a grant proposal for the National Cancer Institute in hopes of implementing a new pain management remedy for late-stage cancer patients, which will also lessen the use of pain medication.

“What I, and many game design developers believe, is that sometimes it’s better for a patient to play a virtual reality game in an immersive and engaging setting to ease the pain a little bit,” he said.

He compares these gamified solutions to that of the Metaverse, which simulates real-life structures.

“There are many ways for us to use games to make this world better.”

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GCH Senior Magaly Cabrera-Ortiz Earns Fulbright Scholarship

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 17 May 2022 18:28:42 +0000

GCH Senior Magaly Cabrera-Ortiz Earns Fulbright Scholarship Mary Cunningham Tue, 05/17/2022 - 14:28

Graduating senior embodies how Mason prepares students to be global leaders

The College of Health and Human Services is proud to congratulate Magaly Cabrera-Ortiz on receiving a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in the Czech Republic. Cabrera-Ortiz graduates in May 2022 with her Bachelor of Science in Global and Community Health.

Each year, a select group of students are chosen from thousands of applicants for this prestigious honor to conduct research, pursue graduate studies, or serve as English Teaching Assistants in one of the 140 countries that partner with the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

“The Fulbright experience is a good use of a gap year while I apply to medical school,” said Cabrera-Ortiz. “As a minority student, I always want to go further and pave the way for other students. It’s going to be a good experience because I’ve never been to Europe.”

What Does It Take to Earn a Fulbright?

For her specific program, Cabrera-Ortiz will be working as an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) at Nursing School Jindrichuv Hradec in the Czech Republic. In addition to exceptional academic performance, Fulbright Scholars are students who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and a desire to use this experience for the betterment of their communities.

A natural leader, she plans to draw upon her experience as the president of Patriots for Health Assistance, a health care volunteer, and a program organizer of the Honors College Recruitment Team; working at the Athletic and Fitness Center; and being an AVID Tutor and an assistant cross-country coach at a local high school.

“I enjoy working with high schoolers because I remember being in their shoes,” Cabrera-Ortiz said. “Being the individual that can remind students of their potential and be a cheerleader in that regard, supporting their growth.” She plans to use this experience while working with nursing students in the Czech Republic.

Cabrera-Ortiz encourages her peers to take risks and reach outside their comfort zone, “When you come across an opportunity, apply for it, and do not automatically eliminate yourself from the opportunity without even having strived for it.”

Combining Clinical and Community Health

Mason’s Bachelor of Science in Global and Community Health prepares students with the knowledge and understanding of community and public health systems, issues and policies related to health promotion, and health education and disease prevention in populations of all sizes.

After serving in the Czech Republic, Cabrera-Ortiz plans to go to medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon. In addition to becoming a physician, Cabrera-Ortiz has a desire to serve her community, and her GCH degree will help her succeed.

“Being a doctor is more than giving a prescription,” she said. Growing up in the Hispanic culture, Cabrera-Ortiz wants to be a role model for the youth in her hometown and work to lessen the health disparities among low socio-economic minorities. “With my childhood experiences, my mission is to use my voice as a provider and advocate for our communities and treat each person as an individual.”

On behalf of the Mason Nation, congratulations to Cabrera-Ortiz on winning the Fulbright and we wish her the best of luck in all future endeavors.

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Congratulations to Gabrielle Jackson, Community Health Senior and Winner of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Grant

dhawkin — Tue, 12 May 2020 18:28:27 +0000

Congratulations to Gabrielle Jackson, Community Health Senior and Winner of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Grant dhawkin Tue, 05/12/2020 - 14:28

Gabrielle Jackson was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Grant, widely recognized as one of the most prestigious international exchange programs, with only 8,000 grants awards each year.

CHHS senior Gabrielle Jackson is set to graduate this spring with a bachelor’s in community health, a minor in Spanish and exciting plans of international community engagement, and a bright future career in public health.

Jackson left her hometown in New Jersey to begin her educational career at Mason in 2016. “Mason had the programs I was interested in, and I loved how close it was to D.C., one of my favorite cities,” says Jackson. “After visiting campus, Mason’s diversity, character and overall friendliness really stood out to me. I then realized I was comparing all my other options to Mason, so it ended up being my first choice.”

With dreams of travel and the desire to help others in her future, the Fulbright scholarship was on Jackson’s radar prior to her time at Mason. “During freshman year I was enrolled in a college success 101 course that asked us to write down three goals to strive for during our college career,” she remembers. “Right then I decided I wanted to write well, think critically, and win a Fulbright.”

After being asked if she learned any important lessons from her time at Mason, Jackson replied, “My professors encouraged me to apply for a Boren fellowship in Brazil. I was very hesitant because it wasn’t a part of my plan. I wanted to go to Colombia or Argentina where they spoke Spanish, why would I go to Brazil? After going to my family for advice, my dad told me, there was nothing to lose by just applying. I realized it was okay to pursue something outside of my plan, so I took the chance and applied.”

Jackson was accepted by the program and traveled to Brazil that summer. “The best advice I would give to future Mason students is not to shut yourself out of opportunities just because you didn’t imagine them for yourself.”

When the time came to apply to the Fulbright scholarship, Jackson received great support from her professors who helped write recommendation letters.

Fulbright typically awards scholarships for the opportunity to be an English teaching assistant (ETA) or conduct research. Jackson chose to be an ETA in Colombia based on her background in Spanish, past teaching experience at Mason assisting in math, and her love for Latino culture.

When she arrives in Colombia, Jackson will be placed in one of their universities to assist in teaching English and math, as well as providing additional support to professionals who wish to improve their English. She will spend about 30 hours a week inside the classroom and the other 10 hours conducting a community engagement project outside the classroom.

Jackson chose Colombia because she used to watch music videos from Afro-Latino communities on the pacific coast of Colombia and remember feeling completely enthralled by their rich and diverse culture. After studying abroad in Spain and experiencing Brazil, she is excited to return to South America and completely immerse herself in their language and everyday life.

Not only does Fulbright provide students with a greater world view but is an integral part of United States diplomacy with other nations. Jackson added that the program is very diversifying, allowing other nations to see the different faces of the United States, and variations of unique backgrounds. International programs like Fulbright share different identities of people who make up the U.S. with the rest of the world.

In light of COVID-19, all Fulbright programs have been delayed and will be reassessed in January 2021. The length of the program will likely be shorter than 10 months, its original duration. Jackson recounted “I was nervous prior to COVID-19 that 10 months would be too long, but now that will not be the case. Right now, health is a primary concern, but it is too soon to predict what will happen or what life will be like in a year.”

When asked what she hopes to accomplish after eventually completing her journey overseas and in a future career, Jackson said, “I always wanted to help others, but now I have a better idea of how I can do that. I believe in providing people with the right resources and encouraging them to take charge of their own lives. It’s not about empowering people, because they already have the power.”

Jackson hopes her time in Colombia will enhance her worldview by expanding her appreciation for people and the strengths they bring no matter where they come from. From a practical standpoint, Jackson will further her language ability in Spanish which will benefit her in future possible careers such as the non-profit sector, social service, or the federal government.

After returning from Colombia, Jackson plans to work for the federal government.