Contact:
Andrea Simakis
Director of Media Relations
Oberlin College and Conservatory
T: 440-775-8485 | C: 440-935-0154
asimakis@oberlin.edu
CHICAGO, IL (August 9, 2024) — Iris Junker, a 2024 Oberlin College and Conservatory graduate, has been awarded a Fulbright scholarship for the 2024–25 academic year.
Junker earned a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Taiwan, teaching English in Taitung.
“Taiwan has an interesting indigenous peoples history; Taitung in particular holds a large population of Taiwanese indigenous Amis peoples,” says Junker, an East Asian studies major who had a minor in art history. “I’m excited to learn about more different cultures and learn through the community and museums in the area.”
While a student at Oberlin, Junker studied abroad in Taiwan and also worked at the Allen Memorial Art Museum as a gallery guide, particularly working with the museum’s Asian art collection. In Taitung, Junker is looking forward to connecting with the local community and culture and hopes to volunteer with local museums.
“Living and learning independently while also learning how to teach is another invaluable experience that I believe will serve me well in the future,” Junker said. “I want to work in museums and the education world professionally, so interacting with the community as well as learning about local culture and history will be a great experience.”
Junker is one of 19 Oberlin alums or recent grads who have been awarded a Fulbright for the 2024-25 academic year, breaking the college’s previous record of honorees in a single academic year.
The Fulbright Program is the federal government’s flagship international academic exchange program. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad.
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