Kelsey Keane Wins Fulbright Student Grant to Kosovo

June 3, 2014

Kelsey Keane has won a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) and will work in Kosovo during the 2014-2015 academic year. This will be her third trip to the Balkans, but Fulbright funding will allow the political science and English major the opportunity to live in the region for a full year. “By serving as an English Teaching Assistant in Kosovo, I hope to invest in the future of Kosovo, working with students who will one day lead their communities,” said Keane. “I believe that words are our most powerful tool. Given the predominance of the English language in global media, my work will help Kosovar youth tell their stories and take control of their narratives.” Keane, a Ruffin Scholar and University Honors Program student first traveled to the region when she was in high school, and the experience left an impact on her—particularly the war-torn landscape and the children growing up in that environment. Her second visit was with the University Honors Program study abroad trip to Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and Corfu, Greece, where she and several other students discussed ethnic conflict, narrative memory and trauma led by political science professor Krista Wiegand and writing and linguistics professor Lori Amy. “Kelsey was an exemplary cultural ambassador on the summer 2012 study abroad trip,” Amy said. “Her natural openness and empathy earned her the friendship of many of the people she met on the trip.” In the upcoming weeks, Keane will learn the specific location of her station in Kosovo, and is excited about working in area schools. “Regardless of where I'm stationed, I cannot wait to work with students. My time will be spent rotating between different middle schools or high schools as a supplemental English instructor. My job will be to provide fun and innovative methods for students to learn English as a second language.” Keane will also have the opportunity to pursue a research or outreach project while living in the Balkans. She hopes to work with one of many agencies focusing on development in the area. After spending additional time in Albania and Kosovo she plans to pursue graduate work in international development practices and ultimately aims to pursue a Ph.D. Keane graduated from Georgia Southern University in May 2014 with honors. The University Honors Program at Georgia Southern University advises students from across the University in their pursuit of national and international competitive scholarships. The University Honors Program provides a small college atmosphere in the context of a large comprehensive university and is designed to foster the development of a critical sense of inquiry, a spirit of creativity, a global perspective, and an ethic of civic responsibility.