VCU Alumna Earns Fulbright Student Scholarship

By Tom Gresham

Laura Baker, an alumna of Virginia Commonwealth University, became the eighth VCU student or alumna to earn a prestigious Fulbright Student Scholarship for the 2010-11 academic year, increasing the total of recipients in an already record-setting year for the university.

Baker, who received a master of urban and regional planning degree in May 2009 from VCU, will use her Fulbright grant to conduct research in Ireland. Baker will examine sustainability as it has been devised, developed and integrated into the spatial planning process in Ireland through the 2002-2020 National Spatial Strategy. The research will focus on the translation of national policy to local practice. Baker is from Stafford, Va., and graduated from Stafford High School.

“We are especially pleased that Laura’s application will be funded,” said Jeff Wing, national scholarship coordinator for VCU. “Only one or two Fulbrights are funded to Ireland each year, and they routinely receive 60 to 80 applications. Laura was an alternate last year. Against long odds, she decided to reapply to see if her application could rise to the top.”

VCU’s previously announced Fulbright Student Scholars include Alison Alexander, Kerry Lucinda Brown, Tennessee Dixon, Tarfia Faizullah, HaNa Kim, Aaron Kunk and Philip Shirk.

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.

This year’s honorees applied for the Fulbright Student Scholarship through the VCU Honors College’s National Scholarship Office, which assists VCU students and alumni who wish to compete for prestigious national and international scholarships.