Academics receive Fulbright Scholar Awards to take their studies abroad

Associate Professor Kathryn Hay and Dr Hona Black are two of the seven recipients of the 2024 awards. These prestigious awards will enable them to continue their research at an institute of their choosing in the United States.

School of Māori Knowledge Senior Lecturer Dr Hona Black, Tūhoe, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Tūwharetoa, has been awarded the 2024 Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar Award. He will travel to the University of Hawai’i, where he will explore language interference with te reo Māori and the Hawaiian language.

Dr Black says, “I have a love of te reo Māori, and I like to focus on ways to help make it more accessible to all. Language interference has always been an issue with te reo, and I have always thought it would be interesting to explore it with similar languages, such as the Hawaiian language. I see this award as an opportunity to establish relationships with experts from Hawai’i as well as to share knowledge and experiences between our languages.”

School of Social Work Associate Professor Kathryn Hay has been awarded a New Zealand Scholar Award. She will research how neurodivergent learners can be supported to succeed in their work-integrated learning experiences at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Dr Hay says, “At Massey I am privileged to teach, research and have leadership responsibilities associated with work-integrated learning (WIL). I am passionate about WIL as this is the component of a student’s qualification where they can apply their academic learning in authentic, real-world contexts.

“Nursing and vet students undertake extensive placements in various types of workplaces. For students, these experiences are often a highlight of their qualification as they get to make connections between theory and practice and develop both personally and professionally.

“The particular learning needs of students who identify as neurodivergent have not generally been given attention in the WIL context. Therefore, through the Fulbright Award, I hope to develop more responsive approaches, systems and policies for neurodivergent learners undertaking WIL as part of their course work.”

Student and staff support

Dean Research Professor Tracy Riley says when she first attended a Fulbright ceremony in 2018 she was surprised that there were no Massey students or staff receiving an award.

Now, the university has a network of previous Fulbright recipients keen to provide support and feedback to interested applicants – both staff and students.

Professor Riley says, “It’s great to see our presence growing at the Fulbright Awards. In 2021, we had four recipients, another two in 2022, and four in 2023.”