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For the first time ever, the �鶹ӰԺ Department of Geography is home to two Fulbright students: Alindomar Silva and Uzma Jabeen!

What is the Fulbright Program?

, established in 1976, enables students, artists and young professionals abroad to study and conduct research in the United States.

“�鶹ӰԺ State has hosted fewer than 100 of these students since the program’s inception, so having two current students speaks to the strength and reputation of this department,” Sarah Smiley, Ph.D., professor and interim department chair, said. 

Alindomar Silva
Silva came to �鶹ӰԺ from Serra Talhada, a semi-arid region in Northern Brazil. To be selected as Fulbright Scholar, he wrote a project statement and a study plan, which he defended in front of the Board of Directors of the Fulbright Program in Brazil, competing against 160 other candidates.

Once Silva was selected, he applied to five universities in the United States. He was accepted at multiple universities, which all encouraged him to come to �鶹ӰԺ State because of the reputation of the geography department and of his advisor, Scott Sheridan, Ph.D.

Silva is now in the third year of his Ph.D. program, researching the impacts of extreme temperatures on human mortality in Brazil. He likes living in �鶹ӰԺ because of the safety of the city and his enjoyment of the four seasons and snow.

Silva appreciates the research opportunities within the department, including the ClimRISE (Climate Research in Synoptic Environments) Lab. He also admires the department’s commitment to taking care of its students.

Prior to arriving at �鶹ӰԺ State, Silva studied for two years at Indiana University on an undergraduate exchange program, where he worked as an urban planner and a senior environmental analyst for private consulting companies. Additionally, he taught geography and English as a second language in public and private schools in Brazil. After completing his degree, his goal is to become a faculty member.

Uzma Jabeen
Jabeen is from the Hunza Valley, located in the Karakoram Mountain region of northern Pakistan, and came to �鶹ӰԺ by way of Nebraska. She transferred to �鶹ӰԺ State from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), along with her advisor Patrick Bitterman, Ph.D.

To be selected as a Fulbright Scholar, Jabeen submitted her project statement and study plan, then interviewed with the Board of Directors. The Board sent her application materials to five universities, and she was placed at UNL.

Prior to starting the Ph.D. program, Jabeen worked as a research associate and visiting faculty in Pakistan. She completed her bachelor's in environmental science and master's in integrated water resources management in Pakistan.

Jabeen is in the fourth year of her Ph.D. program, researching social vulnerability to flooding in the Chesapeake Bay region. She is a member of the HESI2 (Human-Environment Systems, Interactions, and Impacts) Lab.

She studied at the University of Utah as an exchange student during her master's program. After completing her degree, her goal is to either work as a faculty member at �鶹ӰԺ State or for a Non-Governmental Organization.

Although new to �鶹ӰԺ, Jabeen enjoys the weather so far and appreciates how walkable the city and campus are. She feels that although Hunza and �鶹ӰԺ are quite different due to their geographical and climate differences, they have a lot in common. Both regions have four seasons, freezing temperatures, snowfall and beautiful fall colors.

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