Melanie Clairmont Parrett awarded 2010-11 Fulbright Research Scholar Award

UAA International Studies and History student Melanie Clairmont Parrett is the recipient of a 2010-11 Fulbright Research Scholar Award.

The Fulbright Program, the U.S. Government's flagship international exchange program, is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program provides participants-chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential-with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

"Melanie's research project on the evolution of Miao/Hmong oral culture is a timely and important investigation," said Ronald Spatz, Dean of UAA's Honors College. "The level and quality of her research project would be outstanding for any research scholar but is especially exceptional for an undergraduate student."

Melanie feels an international perspective is essential. "I believe that through globalization our world is growing more and more connected, and succeeding in these times will require an even greater understanding of the world around us," said Melanie. "I enjoy learning about cultures and people around the world, and enjoy even more learning about their complex histories."

"The International Studies and History departments are very proud of Melanie's accomplishments," said Professor Susan Kalina, Melanie's faculty mentor. "Melanie was the first UAA student to receive a U.S. Department of State 2009 Critical Languages Scholarship. She was selected by the Honors College Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship as a UAA Student Delegate to the 2009 Student Conference on U.S. Affairs at West Point. Most recently, she was chosen to participate in the 2010 UAA Student Showcase and the 2010 UAA Undergraduate Research and Discovery Symposium."

Melanie was raised in Seattle, Washington. Upon graduating from high school, she spent six years in the U.S. Army as a Chinese-Mandarin translator for the National Security Agency. Out of the 120 Chinese linguists in the 732nd Military Intelligence Battalion, Melanie was one of six soldiers chosen to study at the Institute of Economic Management in Beijing, China in the fall of 2004. After an honorable discharge from the Army in 2006, Melanie was hired as a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines and relocated to Anchorage, Alaska. After graduating from UAA this spring, Melanie will travel to China to conduct her research. Ultimately, she plans to become a Foreign Service officer.