Moira Armstrong (they/them), an Honors College senior from Warren, Ohio, has been selected as an Alternate for the 2022 Fulbright Scholarship Award. As an alternate, candidates such as Moira may be elevated to finalist status for an award should extra funding become available. Moira’s alternate status would allow them to study and conduct research at Goldsmiths, University of London to earn a Masters of Arts while also working at the Queer Britain museum.
While attending Kent State for undergrad, Moira's majors include English and history, with minors in LGBTQ Studies, Religion Studies, and Ancient, Renaissance and Medieval Studies. With many class requirements due to multiple courses of study, Moira miraculously finds time to also serve in many campus clubs and activities, such as the managing editor role for Fusion Magazine, a mentee in the QUEST program, an intern for the College of Arts and Sciences, and a Senior Career Peer for Career Exploration and Development. Moira’s many achievements also include induction into Phi Sigma Iota, Sigma Tau Delta, Phi Alpha Theta and Phi Beta Kappa honor societies.
While Moira had interest in applying for a Fulbright for the past few years, it was their sophomore year that they made the decision to venture into academia as a career, as they learned about the Queer History Masters of Arts program at Goldsmiths, University of London. While Moira applied for a study grant through Fulbright, research and English teaching award options are also available.
As a semi-finalist for the Fulbright, Moira still plans to attend a graduate program in the United Kingdom after graduation from Kent State. “I really wouldn’t be here without the Honors College,” Moira states. As a member of the Freshman in Florence program as a first year Honors College student, Moira fell in love with Italian culture, which resulted in picking up an Italian Studies minor. It was the addition of this minor that introduced Moira to influential individuals in both Italian Studies and more importantly, queer research.
Through an array of introductions and connections, Moira began collaborating with Molly Merryman, Ph.D (she/they), associate professor in the School of Peace and Conflict Studies, for the Queer Pandemic Project. This project included a partnership between Kent State, Goldsmiths, University of London and also, Queer Britain, which sparked Moira’s interest and initial connection with graduate research studies and the United Kingdom.
When asked what advice Moira would share with others who are contemplating an application for a Fulbright Award, Moira states, “I would say to go for it! There is a ton of support here to help you and the Fulbright is fantastic to fund any sort of international project you have in mind.” While applying for such a prestigious national award, Moira comments that, “In terms of the stress, I really tried to keep my expectations realistic because this is a highly competitive scholarship, and [to] keep in mind that even if I didn’t receive the Fulbright, I had other great options for grad school.”
Upon graduating with two majors and four minors in the spring of 2022, Moira hopes to continue their education to earn a Ph.D, with plans of eventually becoming a professor in higher education.
The Fulbright Program receives an average of 10,000 applications annually from American students. It was the first international exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government after the bill was signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1946. Sen. J. William Fulbright initially introduced the bill to be dedicated to student exchange programs to increase international relations. Several other Kent State students applied to various Fulbright Programs for the 2022-2023 competition cycle.
For more information about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, visit https://us.fulbrightonline.org.
For more information about Kent State’s Honors College, visit www.kent.edu/honors.
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PHOTO CAPTION #1: Honors College student Moira Armstrong vists Venice during the Freshmen in Florence program.
Media Contact: Stephanie Moskal, smoskal@kent.edu, 330-672-2312