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Doctoral Student Set to Travel to Portugal for Research Project |
| By
Deanna Lytle |
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Sep 21, 2003 |
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| Elizabeth Sexton |
When Elizabeth Sexton received two letters saying she had received a Fulbright Full Research Fellowship, she couldn’t believe it. "I read ‘Congratulations’ and then my mind went fuzzy. I wasn’t sure if I had received the fellowship. I called Debby Stoudt [UT professor of German] and read the letter to her. When she told me, ‘Congratulations,’ then I knew it was true."
For Sexton, a doctoral student in history, receiving the Fulbright grant is part work, part dedication and part health miracle.
Sexton graduated with an undergraduate degree in English literature from Ohio Northern University in 1992 and a master’s degree in English literature from The University of Toledo in 1996. During her time as a master’s student, she presented papers at the Eighth Annual Women’s Conference and the 31st International Congress on Medieval Studies. "Everyone is so encouraging at conferences, it really makes you want to do more," Sexton said.
She enrolled in the history doctorate program at UT in 1997. But six months into her first year as a doctoral student, Sexton suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. "I had to have immediate brain surgery. Coming out of it, the doctor didn’t know if I would have any language skills," she said. Sexton took a year off of school to recover and was back on campus by fall semester 1999.
Sexton decided to apply for the Fulbright Research Grant last September. The United States Congress created the Fulbright Program in 1946 to allow participants to travel to other countries to exchange knowledge and skills, according to the Fulbright Web site. "It came out of the isolationism after World War II," said Ron Pirog, director of the UT Study Abroad Program in the Office of Study Abroad. "It was meant to encourage mutual understanding, to show that the student will gain and give something back to the host country."
Sexton proposed a trip to Portugal to research her dissertation topic of Anglo-Portuguese imperial competition in western India during the late 17th century. Her topic stemmed from a class she took with her adviser, Dr. Glenn Ames, UT professor of history. "The class was about the European spice trade and how religion affected that," she explained. "I want to look at how religious policies affected the development of colonies in India. Primarily, how the Portuguese changed their policies to match those of England, which were more religiously tolerant." Sexton also proposed to research her topic with Dr. Teótonio de D’Souza, professor of humanities and social sciences at Lusófana University in Lisbon. Ames has worked with D’Souza and put Sexton in touch with him. She planned to take a class in Portuguese history and culture at the university, as well.
Deciding on a topic was only the beginning of the application process. Sexton had to submit a proposal and a personal statement among other paperwork. "It took a whole village to put this together," she said with a laugh. Pirog, Ames, Dr. Stoudt and Dr. Jamie Barlowe, UT associate professor of English, helped edit and give advice.
After submitting the proposal at the end of October 2002, Sexton finally got word in May that she received the fellowship. Sexton is one of three people going to Portugal through the Fulbright program. Now it’s time to pack her bags — she leaves Oct. 5.
Over the summer, Sexton read more books on her topic and met with a woman from Portugal to help her learn Portuguese. "Since UT doesn’t offer that language, my husband and I also have been learning from audiotapes and workbooks," she explained. "I feel pretty confident about my abilities."
Sexton’s family couldn’t be prouder. "My husband told everyone and my sister told everyone," she said. And even though her father isn’t alive to see her go to Portugal, she knows he’s watching over her. "My mom told me how proud he would be of me."
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