ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University graduate student Dawn Rogier has won a Fulbright grant to teach English in Romania during the 2003-2004 academic year. Rogier will graduate in June with a master's degree in linguistics.

In addition to teaching English at the university level, Rogier will also conduct research and provide educational advising to Romanian students who want to study abroad. She said "I'm hoping to do research on curriculum design for English as a Foreign Language-to examine how textbooks are being adapted for English as an international language."

Rogier attributes her enjoyment of teaching English as a foreign language to learning so much about her students along the way. Rogier said she was interested in Romania because she has never been to the area and wants to learn more about it and its geography. "I'm really excited to explore the country, " she said, adding that she looks forward to seeing Romania's mountains and castles.

Rogier holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from The Ohio State University and has served in the Peace Corps in both Zaire and Mali. After completing her Peace Corps service, Rogier spent four years teaching English to children and adults in Nagoya, Japan. A teaching assistant for the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE), Rogier has always enjoyed helping people to communicate better. Upon completion of her Fulbright year, she plans to return to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. in education or applied linguistics so that she may continue working with international students.

"Dawn Rogier has distinguished herself in many ways as a model M.A. student and OPIE teaching assistant," said Assistant Professor and Graduate Chair of Linguistics Scott Jarvis. "Knowing her strengths, I am not surprised that she was awarded the Fulbright grant. Her award is significant to the Linguistics Department because it shows what high quality students we have, and it also highlights the success of our M.A. program in its mission to train ESL/EFL teachers who are recognized as being among the best in the nation."

So far this year, five Ohio University students have received the Fulbright award, the highest number of student Fulbright recipients that Ohio University has had in the last 10 years. This year, seven Ohio University students were recommended to the final round of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. These students represent programs in three colleges, as well as the Center for International Studies.

For more information on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, please contact Beth Clodfelter, the Fulbright Program advisor, at (740) 593-2302 or clodfele@ohio.edu or visit Ohio University's Fulbright Web page at http://www.ohiou.edu/internationalstudies/fulbright/fulbright.htm.