CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Amber Winters, a sophomore at the University of Illinois majoring in psychology and French, has been offered a Fulbright Summer Institute scholarship to study at the University of Dundee in Scotland. A resident of Colona, Illinois, and a graduate of United Township High School in East Moline, Illinois, Winters is one of four U.S. students selected for the three-week cultural and academic summer program titled “Scotland: Identity, Society and the new Enlightenment.”
Winters will explore and learn about the culture, heritage and history of Scotland, visiting Scotland's capital city, museums, galleries and sites of historic interest.
A first-generation college student, Winters aspires to a career as a clinical psychologist to help those with mental health concerns. She has conducted research in the lab of Nancy McEwain, a professor of human development and family studies, on parent and teen child relationships and attachment styles. She is a paraprofessional in the campus counseling center and also serves as the vice president of Open Ears, a wellness and peer-support student organization.
“As part of the Fulbright-Scotland Summer Institute, I hope to investigate the similarities between recent political shifts in America and Scotland and learn strategies to combat the resulting uncertainties in my own life,” Winters said. “Also, this immersion to a new culture will better prepare me for a diverse client population in my future work as a clinician.”
The US-UK Fulbright Commission is part of the Fulbright program conceived by Sen. J. William Fulbright in the aftermath of World War II to promote leadership, learning and empathy between nations through educational exchange.
“This is a unique opportunity to get a taste of British higher education while interacting with students from across the globe,” said Penny Egan, the executive director of the US-UK Fulbright Commission. “As part of a diverse and high-achieving cohort, these students will gain immensely from the experience.”
Fulbright Summer Institutes covers all participant costs. In addition, Fulbright summer participants receive a distinctive support and cultural education program including visa processing, a comprehensive pre-departure orientation, enrichment opportunities in country, a re-entry session and the opportunity to join an alumni network.
“This is the third consecutive year that a University of Illinois student has been awarded one of the 60 scholarships to attend a U.K. summer institute,” said David Schug, the director of the National and International Scholarships Program at Illinois. “Our awardees have all returned richer for the experience and eager to share it among their classmates.”