{"269701":{"#nid":"269701","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Jackson Got Fulbright, Took Trip of Lifetime","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EStephanie Jackson never thought she could even be considered for a Fulbright Scholarship \u2014 until she earned one in 2013.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI always thought that Fulbright Awards were only for students and faculty members \u2014 but I was wrong!\u201d said the assistant director of Undergraduate Advising and Professional Development in the School of International Affairs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFulbright programs are offered to U.S. institution staff members in some Asian countries, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. For two to three weeks, participants travel to one of these countries to learn about best practices in higher education and share their own. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJackson first learned about the program while attending a conference early in her advising career but wasn\u2019t ready to apply until a few years ago. When she did, she was accepted into the UK\u2019s pilot program. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor three weeks in August 2013, Jackson got to know 20 people from across the United States from a range of higher education roles including deans of students, provosts, advisors, and those in charge of assessment. They traveled to 11 institutions in 10 cities in England and Scotland.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThree weeks is a long time to be traveling \u2014 but it was great,\u201d she said. \u201cWe even visited institutions where Tech currently has education agreements. I really liked having a chance to see what our students see.\u201d\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re interested in applying for one of the Fulbright programs, Jackson recommends that you start volunteering with international education opportunities offered at Tech right away. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Fulbright programs are looking for people who are interested in international perspectives,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cSo reach out to international student groups on campus and the Office of International Education and figure out ways to get involved.\u201d \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERead on to learn more about Jackson and her time at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow did you arrive in your current position?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhen I was a kid, I wanted to be an ambassador \u2014 I think I\u2019d say that because I wanted to have a different answer from the other kids. But I was always interested in global events. In college, I majored in political science with an emphasis in international relations. After graduation and working in federal government and nonprofit management for six years, I decided to leave Washington, D.C., to move to Atlanta to be near family. I\u2019d heard of international education at universities but became more familiar with the concept through a national organization for student affairs professionals. I decided this sounded like a profession I\u2019d do well in. A year after moving to Georgia, I was hired at Tech and have been here for eight years.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is an average day like?\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003EI\u2019ll meet with students and discuss goals, and work with faculty members on things such as course scheduling and curriculum changes. I also spend time searching for career development opportunities such as fellowships with the Partnership for Public Service or internships with the Carter Center for both students and alumni. And every fall, I teach GT 1000 for International Affairs majors.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is the most satisfying part of your job?\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003EWatching the evolution of students\u2019 goals. When they arrive at Tech, most want to be diplomats, but I really enjoy teaching them about other options \u2014 for example, working for a nongovernmental organization or establishing a career in the intelligence community. And it\u2019s the best when they go on one of these routes and get in touch with me after graduation to share their stories.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat piece of technology could you not live without?\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003EThe music app Spotify.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is the greatest risk you\u2019ve ever taken \u2014 and did it pay off? \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt was moving to Atlanta without a job \u2014 and it absolutely paid off!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhere is your favorite spot on campus? \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe view from the Ferst Room on the seventh floor of the Library is gorgeous.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhere is your favorite place to have lunch?\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003EIt\u2019s La Parrilla, and I always order the Enchiladas del Mar (seafood enchiladas).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETell us something unique about yourself. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMost people don\u2019t know that I lived in Costa Rica twice (before the start of my career in D.C.). \u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EStephanie Jackson never thought she could even be considered for a Fulbright Scholarship \u2014 until she earned one in 2013.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Stephanie Jackson never thought she could even be considered for a Fulbright Scholarship \u2014 until she earned one in 2013."}],"uid":"27445","created_gmt":"2014-01-21 12:26:20","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:15:44","author":"Amelia Pavlik","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2014-01-21T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2014-01-21T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"269521":{"id":"269521","type":"image","title":"Stephanie Jackson","body":null,"created":"1449244077","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 15:47:57","changed":"1475894959","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:49:19","alt":"Stephanie Jackson","file":{"fid":"198601","name":"stephanie_j.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/stephanie_j_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/stephanie_j_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":662994,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/stephanie_j_0.jpg?itok=rKRxQPHV"}}},"media_ids":["269521"],"groups":[{"id":"1259","name":"Whistle"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"369","name":"Fulbright"},{"id":"167425","name":"School of International Affairs"},{"id":"167594","name":"Stephanie Jackson"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:amelia.pavlik@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAmelia Pavlik\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}