10. U.S. Department of State Announces Fulbright-mtvU Fellowship Winners

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and mtvU announced today the 2012 winners of the Fulbright-mtvU Fellowship to study, for an academic year, aspects of international musical culture in Barbados, Botswana, India, and Kosovo.

In partnership with mtvU, MTV’s 24-hour college network, the Fulbright fellowship uses music to promote mutual understanding. Recipients were chosen through a multi-tiered, merit-based selection process by U.S. and foreign academic leaders, as well as a panel of professional musicians including Foster the People, J.Cole, B.o.B. and Diplo. Winners will share their experiences during their Fulbright year via video reports, blogs and podcasts on mtvU andFulbright.mtvU.com.

The Fulbright-mtvU Fellowship builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power,” which embraces the use of a full range of diplomatic tools—in this case music—to bring people together and foster greater understanding.

The four winning Fulbright-mtvU Fellowships include :

  • Albulen Shabani (University of Wisconsin) will study women’s musical groups in Kosovo.
  • Jeffrey Roy (University of California, Los Angeles) will study music of the LGBT community in India.
  • Katherine Cloutier (Michigan State University) will study community health and music in Barbados.
  • Sebastian Modak (University of Pennsylvania) will study local hip hop and HIV/AIDS awareness in Botswana

The State Department also announced today the launch of the search for next year’s Fulbright-mtvU Fellows. Applications will be accepted through March 1, 2013. More information is available at http://www.us.fulbrightonline.organd http://www.fulbright.mtvU.com.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 315,000 participants from over 155 countries with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Media Contact: Susan Pittman, (202) 632-6373, PittmanSR@state.gov