Kutztown Alumni e-Newsletter : August 2005

Valerie Hymas Valerie Hrimnak-Hymas has used her knowledge, motivation, and experience to enrich the education of others, and to enhance the reputation of the US Student Fulbright Program both here and abroad. The Fulbright program is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide. The program was established in 1946 by the U.S. Congress to "enable the government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries."

Valerie holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Communication from Kutztown University and a Master's Degree in International & Intercultural Communication from the University of Denver. After completing her MA, Valerie's interests in intercultural communication and education took her abroad to London. There she began working as an educational advisor with the Educational Advisory Service and then went on to become Program Director with the US-UK Fulbright Commission. This experience opened doors for Valerie to take a position with the Institute of International Education in New York where she currently resides.

As the Program Manager for Europe and Eurasia, Valerie is responsible for the management of the merit-based Fulbright competition for US Student awards to the region. Valerie also manages several non-Fulbright grant programs sponsored by governments and private foundations. Valerie has a genuine vision of a better world, a commitment to doing something to make it happen, and a deep sense that knowledge is part of that better world.

Information and details about the Fulbright program are available at www.fulbrightonline.org