Paul Kantor - U.S. Distinguished Scholar to Hungary, John Marshall Chair in Political Science
Field: Political Science
Home Institution: Fordham Universtiy, Bronx, New York
Host Institution: University of Szeged
Grant Dates: 2005-2006
Fulbright Alumnus Paul Kantor and Livia Szelpal at Fordham University
My experience as a Fulbright grantee a few years ago is continuing to produce valuable and unexpected results in educational exchange between the U.S. and Hungary.
I was the John Marshall Distinguished Chair in Political Science during 2005-06 at the University of Szeged
, Hungary. It was a grand experience for which I am really grateful. It gave me an opportunity to share my expertise in the study of urban politics and American public policy with students and faculty in the Department of American Studies
in Szeged and with academics at other institutions of higher learning in Hungary. During my Fulbright year I taught a number of bright and eager MA students at the University of Szeged, one of whom was Ms. Livia Klara Szelpal. She took three of my courses on urban and American politics, and also prepared a special research paper under my direction. After graduating from Szeged she entered the Ph.D program at Central European University (CEU) in Budapest where she embarked on a degree in history.
Since leaving Szeged, Livia and I maintained contact during her studies at CEU. I became a sort of long distance academic advisor to her and served last year on her Ph.D examination committee when asked to do so by Livia and her CEU mentor, Professor Judit Bodnar. It has been a very satisfying experience to see Livia’s interests in urban history and politics take on increasing depth and an international dimension during the last three years. She has now embarked on her Ph.D dissertation project that focuses on urbanization and political development in two Hungarian cities during the industrial era.
Most recently, Livia was able to obtain grant assistance from CEU to spend a semester at Fordham University to work under my direction. I supported her application and agreed to host her in this project during the spring term, 2010. The dean of Fordham’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Nancy Busch, was very supportive of Livia’s project. She arranged to admit her as a special student, and to waive tuition and fees in order for her to study with me and conduct research using library resources available only in the U.S. The Fordham University library was very generous in granting Livia library privileges and waiving all fees. My department chair was also very helpful in finding some office space for her to use while on campus.
Livia arrived in January 2010 and is now working very actively on a number of projects. Although I am providing her with mentorship and academic contacts to assist her research, Livia is engaged very independently, eager to get everything she can from this opportunity. In addition to conducting research on her dissertation, she has already completed an article for an academic journal since her arrival. I have gained enormous satisfaction already from seeing Ms. Szelpal blossom academically in so many ways. I cannot help but recognize that Livia’s academic growth and my continued mentorship has been made possible by the assistance of many people during the last few years. Yet it is the Fulbright program that was crucial in starting it all, giving Livia and I so many unexpected opportunities for collaboration well beyond my year abroad in Hungary. For this I will continue to be grateful.
To the U.S.-Hungary Fulbright Program