Audrey Rose ’19 has already experienced the joys of Fulbright service, having been awarded a 2019-2020 Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Spain, assigned to the Canary Islands. There, she discovered that she adored living on an island, delighted in new foods, and realized that her new island neighbors captured her heart. She spent the year teaching children from 3 years old through third grade, which she enjoyed as much as everything else.
Then, Audrey was chosen to remain in the Canary Islands for 2020-2021, serving as the Fulbright Cultural and Pedagogy Mentor for the new cohort of Fulbright grantees who are arriving in the islands this month, January 2021.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have another year in the city of Las Palmas on Gran Canaria, el continente en miniatura (The Miniature Continent),” Audrey said. “I am so pleased to continue work with my wonderful co-teachers and adorable students.”
“As mentor, I am responsible for providing support and resources for the incoming grantees as they transition to Spain and throughout their time as teaching assistants,” she explained. “I am the Canary Islands grantees’ main point of contact for anything—from culture shock to classroom management. My goal as mentor is to inspire the incoming grantees to explore and experience all of the amazing diversity the islands, its people, and culture have to offer.”
She also looks forward to the opportunity to explore additional islands, which each have their own secrets and cultures to share.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and more than 100 expert faculty members allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.