Jackman wins Administrative Fulbright to Thailand

by Mark McGowan

Diane Jackman, associate dean of the NIU College of Education, has received a Administrative Fulbright Fellowship in Thailand.

She will observe a person in a similar role at Chaing Mai University to examine the educational similarities and differences, probably from late December through early February.

"It's a six-week job shadowing experience," said Jackman, who came to NIU in 2001. "I have an opportunity to learn about a new culture and how they operate educational programs, from an associate dean's perspective in teacher education. It will allow for a sharing of educational ideas, professional development and an increased international understanding."

Her cross-cultural experience actually starts in late August, however, when Pongsak Pankaew, Chaing Mai's associate dean of the faculty of education, begins his six-week experience in DeKalb.

The Fulbright Program, part of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, linked Jackman and Pankaew after both submitted applications in search of academic exchanges. The two have begun an e-mail correspondence.

"We will be involving him in everything I'm doing. His background is in science education, so we will arrange to introduce him to all of the science teacher educators at NIU," said Jackman, adding Pankaew also will see "the United States from the northern Illinois perspective" through trips to many cities and towns in the region.

Jackman's paperwork identified Thailand as a top country of interest because of NIU College of Education alumni there. NIU has several longstanding relationships with individuals and universities in Thailand. She hopes to talk to students there about NIU's master's and doctoral programs in education and to explore future collaborations and exchanges beyond the Fulbright.

Jackman is one of approximately 250 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad for the 2004-2005 academic year through the Fulbright Teacher Program, which aims to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the rest of the world.

Originally proposed by Arkansas senator J. William Fulbright, the Fulbright Program has exchanged more than 250,000 people since its inception: 98,400 Americans who have studied, taught or researched abroad and 162,600 students, scholars and teachers from other countries who have engaged in similar activities in the United States.

The program operates in more than 150 countries worldwide.

6-28-04