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Connecticut College Professor Hoffmann receives prestigious Fulbright Scholarship

NEW LONDON, Conn. - Frances Hoffmann, Professor Emerita of Sociology and Gender and Women's Studies at Connecticut College, has been awarded a 2009 - 2010 Fulbright Scholarship. Hoffmann, one of approximately 1,100 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program this year, is completing a nine-month fellowship at Vietnam National University's Center for Testing and Education Quality (CETQA) in Ho Chi Minh City. Hoffmann is working to help Vietnam elevate its universities to meet international standards.

"I am consulting on accreditation processes, as Vietnam is in the very beginning stages of introducing accreditation and quality assurance standards in its universities," Hoffmann said. "In addition, I am consulting with a brand new university on establishing best practices in academic and student life programs."

Hoffmann is also teaching research methods for the social sciences to a group of students pursuing master's degrees, lecturing on a wide variety of higher education topics at various Vietnamese universities and advising individual students on research projects. Connecticut College has a long history of collaboration with Vietnam National University. In 2008, Hoffmann and Economics Professor Rolf Jensen led a group of students on a semester-long study at the university, the seventh such study abroad trip to Vietnam by Connecticut College faculty and students.

"My own life has been deeply enriched by this opportunity, and as a sociologist, this is an incredibly interesting time to be in Vietnam as it maneuvers the economic, political, cultural and human pathways," Hoffmann added.

The Fulbright Program, the U.S.'s flagship international educational exchange program, is sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

About Connecticut College

Situated on the coast of southern New England, Connecticut College is a highly selective private liberal arts college with 1900 students from all across the country and throughout the world. On the college's 750-acre arboretum campus overlooking Long Island Sound, students and faculty create a vibrant social, cultural and intellectual community enriched by diverse perspectives. The college, founded in 1911, is known for its unique combination of interdisciplinary studies, international programs, funded internships, student-faculty research and service learning.

For more information, visit www.conncoll.edu.

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December 14, 2009