ASU’s Knox Wins Summer Fulbright

A history major with primary interests in colonial America and European history, Knox is one of just nine students chosen from throughout the U.S. for the four-week institute, which is themed “Slavery and the Atlantic Heritage” and will run June 1–29. Activities will include academic lectures and discussion, cultural site visits, interaction with Bristol University students and faculty, and volunteering with a community service organization in Bristol.

Staffed by scholars from Africa, North America and the U.K., the institute offers American students an unprecedented perspective from all three continents in the notorious Triangle Trade. Participants will gain appreciation for the complexity and commercial relevance of the 18^th-century smuggling and slave trade, as well as the contrasting legacies of the slave trade between the U.K. and Africa. They will also gain greater insights into the history and culture of the U.K. in general.

“I am excited to have this amazing opportunity to study at prestigious Bristol University and to learn from noted scholars,” Knox said. “I believe that this will not only enrich my understanding of the Atlantic slave trade by exposing me to continental and African perspectives, but also expand my cultural horizons by allowing me to travel abroad for the first time and learn more about our British heritage. I hope to gain knowledge, contribute my ideas and collaborate with others in a unique learning experience.”

Knox was selected for the institute by the U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Commission through a rigorous application and interview process.  Criteria included academic excellence, focused application, a range of extracurricular and community activities, demonstrated ambassadorial skills, a desire to further the Fulbright Program and a plan to give back to the recipient’s home country upon returning. Each year, the commission supports about 50 U.S. and U.K. undergraduate students for the Fulbright Summer Institutes at leading institutions in the U.K. and U.S., respectively.

Created by treaty in 1948, the U.S.-U.K. 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. More information on the commission is available online at www.fulbright.org.uk/.