Emma Knaack teaching in Gimhae, Korea (above) and at the Hwacheon Ice Fishing Festival (right)
better suited to do so—she was a Fulbright scholar herself in Austria from 1997-98. TO THE WORLD
two Fulbright scholars this year demonstrates UIndy’s commitment to fostering a global mindset for our students, and it shows the competitiveness of our students for prestigious awards.” Knaack planned to only stay one year in Korea. But, after just a few short weeks, she was already thinking about renewing her Fulbright scholarship, giving her the opportunity to deepen those connections while she serves as a cultural ambassador— educating 400 others while she learns so much herself. “I fell in love with the school from the moment I started teaching and started asking myself, ‘Can I live here forever?,” said Knaack with a laugh. “It’s an amazing place and the people here are amazing. It’s all about the students. Despite the language barrier, I want to be the teacher that they can come and talk to and know that I’m there for them and I want what’s best for them.” Fountain credits UIndy’s program for helping him form opinions, decide what’s important, and chart out a potential post-grad path, starting with a year abroad. He also credits the University for helping him realize he isn’t done growing. “I’m really interested in continuing to learn,” said Fountain. “I feel like it’s a shame to stop learning or to not hear other perspectives. I want to keep getting better. I want to keep improving.”
“It was one of the best years of my life because I made a commitment to plug into the community, to meet local people, and to get engaged as much as I possibly could,” said Newman, who was also an associate professor who primarily taught in the Teachers of English Learners (TEL) program. “Our world is increasingly interconnected. From the food we buy to the media we consume, it is not local, it is global. It’s vital that our students understand the people and the cultures that these things originate in.” Newman points to data which shows more than 950 foreign- owned companies have a presence in Indiana, employing more than 200,000 Hoosiers. Dr. James B. Williams, dean of the Ron and Laura Strain Honors College, is currently hiring someone to take Newman’s role. He agrees that a global mindset emphasized by the UIndy curriculum only enhances the ability to snag a highly competitive job after graduation. “The Fulbright Program is one of the most well-known, respected, and competitive scholarship opportunities available to graduating students,” said Williams. “Having not just one but
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MAGAZINE // SPRING 2025
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