At Kopi Café in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago, Diana Giambona enjoys the last days of her Fulbright experience days prior to returning to Spain.
LAST AUGUST 2023, I bid farewell to Chicago after a year studying at Northwestern University, where I earned my Master of Science in Journalism from Medill. It was a unique opportunity to learn from top journalism experts, connect with incredibly talented individuals, and gain invaluable experiences.
It marked my first trip to the United States. I felt thrilled yet also apprehensive about the challenges ahead.
The shift was significant, traveling from Tenerife, a beautiful Spanish island across from Africa with close to a million residents, to bustling Chicago, among the United States most populous cities.
The Fulbright Chicago Chapter offered tremendous support during my time there, with their mentorship program easing my integration into the local community.
Attending with two other Fulbright students the “Cintas de Seda” play by Aguijón Theater.Next to her Flavia Martins from Portugal and Olivia Walliser from Switzerland.
My mentor, who is also a journalist, guided me through the intricacies of higher education, shared insights into American society, and provided assistance whenever I had questions, even support when applying to internships.
Through the Fulbright Chicago Chapter activities, I connected with fellow Fulbrighters who joined me on this incredible journey. Some of them became friends, and I thank them for making this experience even better.
With Flavia Martins, a Fulbrighter from Portugal, Diana Giambona shares a Christmas celebration at her mentor’s home.
To future Fulbrighters, I recommend engaging in Chicago Chapter activities and connecting with other members. To those beginning their program this year, embrace every moment and savor your time because it passes swiftly. Also, participate in its Mentoring Program that will help you navigate American society.
It was an unforgettable adventure. Thanks to Fulbright Program and the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association for making it happen.
JOIN THE CHICAGO CHAPTER OF THE FULBRIGHT ASSOCIATION for an enchanting evening as we celebrate the second successful year of the Fulbright Chicago Mentoring Program! This special event, brimming with camaraderie, achievement, and inspiration, will highlight the enriching experiences of our mentees throughout their stay in the Chicagoland area.
Enjoy a spring evening of live music, delightful food, and fine wine, mingling with fellow mentors, mentees, and alumni.
WHEN Friday May 10, 2024 TIME 6:00 – 9:00 PM WHERE The Alliance Française ADDRESS 54 West Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60610 COST FREE (But consider donations and contributing to our clothing drive. Details below) RSVP NOW HERE
Certificate Presentation Ceremony: Witness the proud moment as each mentee receives a certificate, celebrated by their mentor or a member of the Mentoring Committee. Mentees, submit your information for your certificate here: https://forms.gle/yhxf8maswzRVCS1j6
Community Support Initiative: In the spirit of giving, we are also organizing a clothing drive to support immigrant families in need. Please bring gently used clothing suitable for spring and summer to help make a difference.
We are gathering together to honor this year’s mentoring achievements, foster new connections, and positively impact our community.
Sylvia Atsalis is the founder of Professional Development for Good, a consulting practice dedicated to nurturing the talents of emerging conservation leadership across developing countries globally. Initially, Atsalis’s consulting efforts were directed towards mission-driven individuals, including students, early career professionals, and even those in mid-career seeking a pivotal change. To achieve a greater impact, her focus has shifted towards NGO teams, aiming to enhance their talents, communication, and leadership skills. As a scientist and conservationist, Atsalis’s mission is closely aligned with those she supports, understanding the specific demands of their careers from a place of shared experience and commitment.
CONTINUING WITH our Fulbright Chicago Mentoring Program webinars, this time we have two local Fulbright Chicago alumni sharing their work with the immigrant community. Participate in this opportunity to meet fellow Fulbrighters!
TWO-TIME FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR and current executive director of the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission in Sofia, Bulgaria, Angela Rodel is visiting Chicago. “As a literary translator who was able to learn Bulgarian thanks to a Fulbright student grant way back in 1996, I will presenting my latest translation ‘The Case of Cem’ by Vera Mutafchieva,” Rodel says. She is inviting the Fulbright community to this literary event where Rodel will be discussing the book with the editorial director of Words Without Borders, Susan Harris.
WHATThe Case of Cem book discussion
WHO Angela Rodel and Susan Harris
WHEN Feb. 7, 2024. 6:00-7:00 PM
WHERE Seminary Co-op, 5751 S Woodlawn Ave., Chicago, IL60615
About the book: It’s 1481, and as seen from the centers of power in Rome and Venice, the cultures of Europe are under threat from the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. When the exalted Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror dies, his eldest son, Bayezid, takes the throne. However, discontented factions within the Ottoman army urge Mehmed’s second son, Cem, a well-educated and experienced warrior, to oppose his brother’s ascension, igniting a ruthless power struggle and forcing Cem into long years of exile, a pawn for European rulers who are desperate to preserve the order they have imposed on the continent over the course of centuries.
The Case of Cem, Vera Mutafchieva’s celebrated novel of court intrigue, maintains lasting resonance for being a personal exploration of emigration and loss set in the historical era during which the politics of the East and West were sketched out with utter clarity. These early lines of demarcation, as voiced through Christian and Muslim emissaries, greedy leaders, unflinching soldiers, and lyrical poets, have indelibly influenced the world as we know it today.
About the author: Rodel, originally from Minnesota, is a literary translator who holds degrees from Yale and UCLA in linguistics and ethnomusicology. Eight Bulgarian novels in her translation have been published in the US and UK. She has received NEA and PEN translation grants, including an NEA grant for her translation of The Case of Cem. Her translation of Georgi Gospodinov’s Physics of Sorrow won the 2016 AATSEEL Prize for Literary Translation, and her translation of his novel Time Shelter won the 2023 International Booker Prize.
ON BEHALF OF THE FULBRIGHT CHICAGO MENTORING PROGRAM we are thrilled to announce the Fulbright Chicago Chapter’s first kick-off event of the year! Mark your calendars for an evening of captivating storytelling and cultural exploration.
📅 WHEN January 16, 2024
⏰ TIME 6:00 PM Central Time
Join us as Fulbright Alumni Alan Teller and Jerri Zbiral take us on their incredible journey of “Following the Box” from Chicago to India.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTA mysterious shoebox discovered at an estate sale, filled with photographs and negatives from India in 1945, sparked a quest for Chicago couple Alan and Jerri. Their journey led them halfway across the world as they sought to unravel the history behind these fascinating images. In India, they collaborated with local artists, inspiring a unique body of work that reflects a cross-cultural dialogue between past and present. This project, initiated with a Fulbright award, showcases the enduring power of art to bridge cultures and time.
JOIN US ONLINE To be part of this extraordinary event, please join us via Zoom at the link below:
We warmly invite everyone to join us in experiencing Alan’s and Jerri’s journey. This event promises to be not only an exploration of art and history but also a celebration of our shared human experiences across different cultures.
Looking forward to seeing you there! Mete Ozgurses and Marilyn Susman on behalf of the Fulbright Chicago Chapter
“THE FIVE-MINUTE FULBRIGHT” presentations will be delivered at the Fulbright, U.S. Department of State & CCGA Extravaganza on Jan. 25, 2024 at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Every Fulbright experience is unique. They range over a vast number of fields, areas of interest, cultures and regions of the world. Each Fulbright alum can speak for an entire evening on their experience however, this is different. We will have five Fulbright alums summarize their Fulbright experience in five minutes each.
Each Fulbright presentation can have up to three slides and must include your country, year, and topic/research project.
1) Slides can be pictures, words, whatever you prefer.
2) Make it interesting – hit the best parts of your experience, include whatever you want to help share the richness of your Fulbright experience.
DEADLINE has been extended to Jan. 15 at midnight, by completing the short application on the link below:
IN CELEBRATION OF 2023 International Education Week, the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association invite you, your friends, family, and colleagues to a presentation of Chicago architectural history. The talk will focus on Chicago’s major historical events, and how those events lead to pioneering innovations in architecture and structural engineering that have influenced the building of modern cities around the world.
The presentation will be led by Dr. John Zukowsky, an art historian with numerous honors and professional positions including that of Curator of Architecture at the Art Institute of Chicago. The lecture will take place at the Hull House Museum which is part of the Art and Architecture College at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC.)
Whether you’re a Chicago native, or visiting from halfway around the world, this will be an excellent opportunity to learn about some of the most fascinating facts about the architecture of our wonderful city and its impact on industrial development, commerce, world-wide architectural innovations, and lives of those who make Chicago their home.
WHAT Presentation on Chicago’s architecture, Q & A, and networking WHEN Wednesday, November 15, 2023 4:00pm-5:30pm WHERE Hull House Museum Dining Hall 800 South Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60607 COST This educational event is presented to attendees at no cost. Refreshments will be served. RSVP Click on the linkRSVP
Dr. Edel Jose, Marketa Klicova, Nicole Robinson and Vera Komarova.
By Mary Mares-Awe—THE CHICAGO CHAPTER RECENTLY held a Women’s Empowerment Forum at the University Club of Chicago. The forum focused on women in leadership roles, and examined some of the influences, motivations, and inspirations that helped them achieve top positions in their fields.
The event, which took place on Oct. 5, was organized in partnership with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago. Vice Consul Veronica Boksova opened the meeting followed by an introduction by Fulbright Chicago President, Dr. Edel Jose, who moderated the forum.
Attendees at the Women’s Empowerment Forum.
Some 40 participants including the Consul General of the Czech Republic, Jakub Uteseny and Sergejus Tichomirovas, Commercial Attache of the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania, visiting Fulbright scholars, Fulbright alumni and students attended.
The panel featured Vera Komarova, CEO of Dermacol, a flagship makeup company in the Czech Republic. She traveled to Chicago to participate in the forum. Also part of the panel were Marketa Klicova, a PhD student, and a researcher in nano technology with an internship at Harvard University, and Nicole Robinson, CEO of YWCA Metropolitan Chicago.
The forum coincided with the National Women-Owned Business Day, and also the National Do Something Nice Day. Those two concepts were woven into the topic and discussion of the day. The three panelists shared highlights of their background in the business, science, and community service fields. They related how the influence of mentors, their own experiences, and education lead to their current leadership roles.
Dr. Edel Jose, Marketa Klicova, Nicole Robinson,Vera Komarova and Vice Consul Veronika Boksova.
Nicole Robinson, who after spending many years at the corporate level, said she felt a strong need to take her experience and knowledge and apply it working with the community. She spoke with great enthusiasm about the many programs at the YWCA designed to empower women. She emphasized the importance of education for girls as she described the science and math focused programs. She relayed her own story of growing up on Chicago’s south side, as a young girl and how her grandmother instilled in her a love of books and learning. “ My grandmother who moved to Chicago from Arkansas worked hard, and she knew the importance of education. She always brought home books for me,” Nicole recalled.
Marketa Klicova, who is currently working on developing new approaches to postoperative intestinal healing using nano technology, credits her parents who were very supportive and influential in her becoming a scientist. She says there is a great future in the application of nano science technology in the medical field. She’s been working as a researcher at Harvard University in the field of nano technology and its application in medicine. She said it’s important for young girls to develop their interests early and focus on STEM studies for their future careers.
Vera Komarova, CEO of Dermacol, a Czech makeup company with a history dating to the early 1960’s when it became an integral part of the Czech movie industry providing make up to film starts of the silver screen and television. She mentioned how growing up, “I was a tomboy, not much interested in make up or dressing up” but all that changed when she grew up. She partly credits men for their advice that led to her becoming a business leader. “My first boyfriend wanted me to study languages, so that I could be a stay-at-home mom to our future six kids and work from home as a translator,” she said with a smile. That relationship did not last, but her interest in language and business studies did. She speaks five languages. While still a student, she obtained an internship at the Ferrero Rocher chocolate company in Italy. The owner of the company noticed her office skills and recommended she move up to the marketing department, where she learned valuable business skills.
As the CEO of Dermacon, Vera has been named for eight consecutive years, one of the most influential women in the Czech Republic by Forbes Magazine. Just as Nicole and Marketa, Vera highly values education. In addition to her CEO role, she founded the Leonardo da Vinci Academy in Prague. “Leonardo da Vinci said, ‘if you live a long life, you have to make yourself useful, ’ ” she said with a bright smile, explaining her reason for starting the international school.
Consul Gen. Jakub Uteseny, Chicago Chapter President Dr. Edel Jose,Vice Consul Veronika Boksova and Fulbright Chicago Board Member Mary Mares-Awe.
On a more serious note—as for the importance of promoting women in leadership, the panelists agreed that women sometimes are not as supportive of each other as thy ought to be. All acquiesced that women should make more of a consorted effort to help other women get ahead though mentoring, friendship, or just being “nice” in order to help other women get ahead in their careers. Petty jealousy doesn’t help anyone, it just creates problems,” one of the panelists added.
The forum was followed by a reception where the lively discussion continued in small groups.
FULBRIGHT CHICAGO 