Jessica Jagger, Former VCU LEND Trainee, Receives Fulbright Scholarship

June 15, 2009

  http://www.news.vcu.edu/news.aspx?v=detail&nid=2923

Two Virginia Commonwealth University students have earned Fulbright Student Scholarships to conduct research abroad.

"These students have worked exceptionally hard in representing VCU in the Fulbright Scholarship competition," said Jeff Wing, national scholarship coordinator in the Honors College at VCU. "The Fulbright provides them with an invaluable opportunity to pursue their research interests in the field for an extended period of time. Their Fulbright experiences will inevitably influence their career trajectories."

Jessica Jagger, a native of Toms River, NJ, will use the Fulbright support to conduct research on emergency management policy and disability in Jamaica. Jagger will explore how leaders account for people with disabilities in emergency planning, especially examining the impact that people with disabilities have on the development of policy. Jagger, who plans to conduct her research for 10 months starting in November, became interested in this topic after observing the particularly disruptive impact that Hurricane Katrina had on people with disabilities. Jessical is a graduate of the VA LEND Program and a second-year doctoral student in the School of Social Work.  She will return following her Fulbright research to complete her PhD work at VCU.

Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program aims to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries, through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills. Sponsored by the United States Department of State, the Fulbright Program provides funding for students, scholars and professionals to undertake graduate study, advanced research, university teaching and teaching in elementary and secondary schools.

Jagger applied for the Fulbright Student Scholarship through the Honors College's National Scholarship Office, which assists the best and brightest VCU students and alumni to compete for prestigious national and international scholarships.