VCU alumna studying in Austria on Fulbright scholarship
by Lauren McClellan
Meeting ambassadors, participating in a EU-NATO seminar, traveling to London, Luxembourg and Brussels. These are all experiences of Fulbright student scholar Tschuna Gibson during her time abroad in Austria.
VCU alumna Tschuna Gibson is currently studying in Austria on a Fulbright scholarship. She is studying sustainable agriculture and alternative food networks at the University of Vienna. She is also teaching English at a public high school in Vienna.
Gibson graduated from The Honors College in 2012 with a dual degree in International Studies and Philosophy. She also minored in German.
Austria
Gibson said she chose to study in Austria because it is the number one organic farming country in Europe. The country was perfect for her desire to research sustainable agriculture.
“I had hoped to find a community organization with which to work, but I hadn’t expected to find such a vibrant community of students, academics, farmers and consumers committed to promoting sustainable, local food networks while advocating for EU-wide reform of agricultural politics,” Gibson said. “I’ve learned so much from the people I’ve met.”
This is not the first time Gibson has studied in Austria. She spent her junior year studying abroad in Salzburg.
“The wonderful experiences that I had there are what motivated me to come back,” Gibson said.
Gibson is currently studying at the University of Vienna. This semester, she is also studying at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. All of her studies are tailored around her research project that focuses on sustainable agriculture and alternative food networks.
Out of all her experiences in Vienna, Gibson enjoys her teaching job the most. She currently helps to teach students who range from 15 to 18 years old at a local public high school. Her teaching job has allowed her to share her perspective as an American while she learns about the world from a European and Austrian perspective.
“A large part of my job is to carry out the Fulbright mission of promoting ‘mutual understanding between people of the United States and people of other countries,’ and I really think that I’ve been able to do so in my capacity as a teaching assistant.”
In addition to her research and teaching, in March, Gibson participated in a five day EU-NATO seminar in Belgium. Elected by Austria’s Fulbright commission to take part in the seminar, she had the opportunity to tour the inner sanctions of NATO and the EU with Fulbright grantees from across Europe. The seminar began with a reception at the residence of the US ambassador to Luxembourg and ended in Brussels.
The application process
Gibson heard about the National Scholarship Office through The Honors College at VCU. She started the application process in August before the start of the semester. Gibson worked on her application with the help of the National Scholarship Office, VCU’s Writing Center and various faculty members who helped her to formulate her proposal.
Gibson began her application process by altering a personal statement she had already written for another scholarship to suit the requirements of the Fulbright application. Her personal statement, which focused on her previous ties to Austria, did not change very much from one draft to the next.
“My proposal, on the other hand, was completely re-written after my first panel session,” Gibson said.
Gibson believes her knowledge of German helped her application. She also believes that the many volunteer positions she held, along with several internships she completed during her undergraduate years at VCU, helped her to stand out among the other applicants to Austria.
“I think that my two prominent professional experiences – an internship at the Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC and an internship at another international development organization in Salzburg, Austria – helped to demonstrate my interest in enhancing international solidarity,” Gibson said. “I was also able to write genuinely about my love of Austria, having recently spent a year studying and working in Salzburg.”
Before learning that she had received her Fulbright award, Gibson applied for and was accepted to a research assistantship program at American University’s School of International Service. She had planned on entering the program after she graduated from VCU. Her plans changed as a result of her Fulbright, but not permanently. She was able to defer her admission for a year.
Gibson said she felt “incredibly lucky” to receive the Fulbright scholarship.
Advice for future scholarship applicants
After applying and receiving her Fulbright, Gibson has this advice for future scholarship applicants:
“Just be sure that you are truly passionate about the work you propose to do – I’m sure that this passion will shine through. Also, map out a rough schedule for yourself as soon as you know that you want to complete an application. The process is long but very constructive as long as you allow yourself enough time!”
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VCU alumni or current students interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholarship or other nationally competitive scholarships should contact the National Scholarship Office at [email protected] or (804) 828-6868.
Categories Fulbright Award, NSO Student Features