Three NIU professors were awarded with the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Fulbright Award.

The award provides grants for individuals who aim to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries,” according to the Department of State’s Web site.

All three winners will travel outside the country to conduct research.

Doris Macdonald, an English professor who will use her grant to travel to Lithuania, believes the program broadens the horizons of those who participate.

“I think one of the things [the Fulbright program] does is sort of really transform your picture of the world,” she said.

According to the program’s Web site, the program awards about 6,000 grants to scholars, professors and professionals to “study, teach, lecture and conduct research in more than 150 countries.”

Macdonald will use her expertise in teaching and learning a second language at Vilnius University, the oldest university in Lithuania.

“I leave in just over a week and I will be teaching and helping to team-teach another class,” Macdonald said.

“My area is English linguistics; especially as a second language and the situation of language in the U.S.”

In addition to lecturing at the university, Macdonald will work alongside faculty members in such courses as American civilization and English language.

Additionally, Eric Jones, an assistant history professor and Jeff Brown, an associate professor in the College of Law, were granted awards.

Jones is currently working on a 10-month project in Malaysia at the National University of Malaysia in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur with his family.

Seven NIU students are slated to join Jones in the Southeast Asian country where they will become immersed in local culture and history.

Brown will leave in February to teach a comparative law course in the Republic of Karelia’s University in Petrozavodsk and will research the government of Vladimir Putin.

The NIU International Program offers to help students interested in applying for the student version of the award. Deb Pierce, the executive director of the International Programs, said the Fulbright award is a good opportunity for those interested in researching abroad.

“The student Fulbright program is a really great competitive program,” Pierce said. “It’s really for just about any field. There are two basic kinds and one is for research and study and the second is teaching the English language at a secondary or elementary school.”

Only those who already have their bachelor degree or are currently a senior can apply for a grant through the program.