Fulbright scholar brings global perspective to Augustana

Fulbright scholar Rowland Kamanga is visiting Augustana from May 6–9, participating in an assortment of events to highlight his research and offer a scholarship experience both new and relevant to the campus community.

Kamanga’s visit is significant for a number of reasons, one being that he is the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright scholarship.

Fulbright programs allow distinguished students and scholars from more than 160 countries to “study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to mutual understanding,” according to the Fulbright Scholars official website. While achieving the status of ‘Fulbright scholar’ alone is extremely difficult, Kamanga will also be among the first scholars of this type to visit Augustana, and it was no small feat making it happen.

The Center for Global Engagement (CGE) applied for the Outreach Lecturing Fund, a program that allows Fulbright Visiting Scholars like Kamanga — a Malawi native conducting horticulture research at the University of Florida — to visit other universities within the US for a few days and present on their academic research, home culture and experience as a Fulbright Scholar.

Part of the application process involves “matching” with a scholar that aligns with the university’s academic and cultural values. Cory Conover, professor of history and faculty liaison to the CGE, was impressed with the selection of scholars available.

“Fulbright has a long list of all the scholars that are here in the US, and it’s like Christmas,” Conover said. “You go through the list, it’s like ‘oh man, this person sounds awesome,’ ‘this other person sounds awesome.’”

Conover and the CGE ultimately made their decision based on who would have a connection to the interests and values of Augustana.

“Biology and environmental studies seem like a good fit,” Conover said, describing the thought process that led to selecting Kamanga. “And we’ve got some new energy on campus for African studies, and a growing contingent of African students .”

Catherine Banson, a senior environmental science and history major from Ghana, will meet Kamanga for lunch during his visit. She is excited that Augustana has invited a scholar that reflects her own culture.

“He’s coming from Malawi,” she said. “We don’t hear a lot from Malawi. We don’t! … It’s about time we had that kind of representation, especially in higher education, and I’m really really excited to meet him.”

Being an environmental science major herself, Banson is also interested in Kamanga’s research topics.

“It’s nice to see someone from my part of the world just being as interested in this field as I am,” Banson said. “[He’s] a Malawian interested in forestry, and I’m a Ghanian who is also interested in forestry.”

In addition to his lunch with Banson and other environmental science majors, Kamanga will also be attending faculty dinners, guest lecturing in classes, meeting the African Student Union, and presenting his Fulbright experience at the weekly Rendezvous in the Back Alley.

“Poor guy, he’s going to be exhausted by the time he leaves,” Conover said.

Kamanga is the second Fulbright scholar to visit Augustana, but the CGE does not plan for him to be the last. Dr. Beate Steinveg, an associate professor from Nord University, was the first to visit campus on April 19-21. Other Fulbright programs can bring scholars to the host university for a semester or even for an entire academic year. If Kamanga’s visit through the Outreach Lecturing Fund goes well, the CGE plans to apply for more Fulbright opportunities in the future.

“[Inviting a Fulbright scholar] has been in the thought process for a long time,” said Erin Kane, director of study away for the CGE. For the programs that host scholars for more than a few days, Kane added that it is a “significant application” involving considerable coordination with faculty and deans to ensure a proper placement.

For the time being, the CGE is excited to continue participating in these short-term visits like Kamanga’s, adding that Augustana plans to offer a couple more visiting professors time on campus next year.