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Liberty Spanish professor, recent graduate receive Fulbright grants to teach and research abroad

Dr. Andrew Milacci’s Fulbright grant will take him to Brazil.

Dr. Andrew Milacci, an associate professor of Spanish from Liberty’s College of Arts and Sciences, and alumnus Joseph Anguiano (’21), who received a Master of Arts in Teaching – Secondary Education from Liberty University Online Programs, have received Fulbright grants to study, research, and teach abroad. Milacci, a Fulbright U.S. Scholar finalist, will be conducting poetry research in Brazil, and Anguiano, a Fulbright U.S. Student finalist, will be teaching English Literature at a Hungarian university.

The pair were notified of their Fulbright selections in April and will leave for their respective countries in February of 2022 and complete their work in June 2022. Milacci and Anguiano were among seven total Fulbright semifinalists from Liberty for 2021-22.

“I felt unworthy and grateful,” said Milacci, who has served on Liberty’s Fulbright Committee for four years. “I’m excited about the opportunity. Not only do I get to represent my home culture and learn from their culture, but also I’m praying for opportunities to represent Christ as well.”

Milacci will be teaching at Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santanta, in the state of Bahia, and conducting further research into Brazilian folklore poetry, which is experiencing a resurgence in Brazil right now. He plans to write a biography about an individual named Virgulino Ferreira da Silva, nicknamed “Lampião,” who was present in that particular poetry. If published, his book will be the first English biography of Lampião since the 1970s.

“I’m just really excited about experiencing everything, sharing what I have to share, and learning other perspectives,” Milacci said. “I’ve never once doubted the support of my chair or my dean. It’s been a huge relief to know that they’ve got my back and that they’re excited for me. So, I would like to say thanks to Liberty and to my supervisors for being so generous with their support and understanding.”

Joseph Anguiano (’21) received a Fulbright scholarship to teach English Literature in Hungary.

Anguiano will be teaching English literature. Teaching at a university has been one of his lifelong dreams.

“Hungary was one of the only countries that had that opportunity,” Anguiano said. “Teaching at the university level has been my goal for a really long time, as an English teacher. That’s probably the number one thing I’m excited for.”

Anguiano said he would like to pursue teaching as a career after the Fulbright trip.

He completed his master’s degree online with Liberty while working in Poland, Italy, and the West Coast.

“It was a perfect program for me. It was a necessity,” he said. “The program online is perfect. Everything works out conveniently, and the school understands how to cater to online students.”

“I think (teaching in Hungary) will be a great opportunity,” he added. “I’m glad Liberty was able to help. I’d like to thank Dr. Edna Udobong (associate professor of government and Fulbright program advisor and scholar liaison) a lot. She was very patient with me. It was really helpful.”

The Fulbright is the United States flagship international exchange program that allows students, faculty and international administrators the ability to go overseas and teach, conduct research or study. The program is very rigorous and competitive, and receiving a grant is a high honor.

The program at Liberty is administered through Dean Robert Hurt’s Office, Helms School of Government (HSOG), and supervised by the Office of the Provost. Contact Edna Udobong at eudobong3@liberty.edu to attend an information session on how to apply. 

 

To learn more, visit Liberty’s Fulbright website.

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