"I went into Barbara's office and said, 'I think I want to apply for this.' And she said, 'I think I'm going to apply for it, too!'" said University Honors Program Director Amanda Neuber, EDU '19.  

Director of Scholar Development and Fellowships Advising Barbara Gorka and Neuber both had the experience of a lifetime last semester when they traveled abroad to Germany and France, respectively, as Fulbright scholars. 

The Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Award allows senior higher education staff like Neuber and Gorka to travel to a host country with the intent of learning more about their education system and making meaningful connections to take back home.  

After years of advising and encouraging students to apply for fellowships, some of which are also from the US Fulbright Program, Neuber and Gorka decided that 2023 would be the year they take their own advice and apply for one themselves.  

Neuber often tells students that you won't be accepted if you don't apply, a sentiment which motivated her throughout the application process. Going abroad for two weeks comes with a lot of logistical challenges, but Neuber knew that if she at least applied, she could figure out the rest later.  

Gorka went through a similar process. The timing was horrible, she said, because the application was due at the same time as Fulbright student applications. This means that while she was working on her own application, she was busy with making sure her advisees were ready and felt supported with their own pursuits.  

Nevertheless, Gorka knew the deadlines wouldn't change, and she would have to make it work to pursue her hopes of receiving the IEA award.  

Neuber and Gorka went through every step of the application process together. From reading multiple drafts of each other's essays to reflecting on their intentions for going, they felt a new sense of comradery as colleagues turned Fulbright applicants. 

"It really stresses to me how important it is for people who are applying for fellowships not to go it alone," Gorka said. 

Though she was obviously ecstatic to find out she was selected, Neuber said that the process of articulating her goals and reflecting on her current role was a helpful process that she wouldn't have done on her own.  

On October 8, 2023, Gorka left for Germany.  

Other than the United Kingdom and Spanish-speaking countries, Temple University sees the highest number of applicants to fellowships in Germany. Gorka has a degree in Spanish and Latin American literature and has been to the UK for an education abroad job, so Germany was the obvious choice for her to pursue to fill the gap in her knowledge when preparing students for experiences there.   

Neuber left for France on October 5, 2023, and chose the country due to her personal interest after studying French in high school and college as well as their robust science education program. Students studying science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) rarely study abroad, and Neuber saw this as an opportunity to learn more about what France could offer them. 

 "To have time and space away to think was really important," Neuber said. Gorka noted that she often hears the same thing from students and faculty that go abroad since they don't have other commitments or obligations and can really focus on their reason for being there.  

While in Germany, Gorka gained a new appreciation for German culture and is glad to have a renewed energy to learn about a new country at this point in her career. She also got to connect with other faculty in roles like hers from other universities and came back with potential for exchange programs and further collaboration.  

Neuber accomplished her goal of finding opportunities for STEM students abroad, namely, to do research, perhaps even paid, over the summer.  However, she also noted an unexpected, yet crucial, takeaway from the program: the power of community spaces. Neuber came home with a notebook full of ideas for the Honors Huddle and is excited to continue implementing them. 

Neuber and Gorka returned to Philadelphia in late October and now feel more ready to support students as they seek out their own fellowships or experiences abroad. Gorka noted that she has a better understanding of how applicants feel and the guts that it takes to put themselves out there.  

Lastly, Neuber and Gorka are now huge advocates for other administrators pursuing the IEA award or other fellowships.  

"It really reminded me why we push study abroad so hard," Neuber said. "Getting a global experience is so transformative."