Dr. Jie-Qi Chen Receives Fulbright Award, Expanding Erikson’s Impact Abroad

The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has awarded a prestigious Fulbright Specialist Program award to Jie-Qi Chen, Barbara T. Bowman Professor of Early Childhood Education at Erikson. Chen will complete a project at Stadi za Maisha Educational Trust in Kenya that aims to exchange knowledge and establish partnerships benefiting participants, institutions and communities both in the U.S. and overseas through a variety of educational and training activities within education.

“I will be in Kenya and neighboring countries for 40 days from December 2024 to January 2025,” says Chen. “During this time, I will deliver a keynote at the first East African Conference on Gifted Education in Nairobi, Kenya. I will then collaborate with the U.S. Embassy’s Nairobi Office and Kenyatta University to lead train-the-trainer workshops.”

Recipients of Fulbright Specialist awards are selected by their academic and professional achievement, demonstrated leadership in their field, and their potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad. The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

This is Jie-Qi’s third Fulbright Educational Specialist award since joining Erikson. In her previous awards, she participated in cultural exchanges with educators in Peru, Hong Kong, Russia, and Taiwan. The entire Erikson community has benefitted from Chen’s expertise for over 30 years, as she has provided leadership in both academic and administrative roles. Chen founded Erikson’s Early Math Collaborative and its Early Teaching and Learning Academy. Scores of students and professionals in the field have grown through her teaching, scholarship, and mentorship.

“I am truly honored to receive this award, proud to represent Erikson Institute in this unique capacity, and excited for the cultural experiences this opportunity will bring,” says Chen.