Dr. Nina Asher, Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, is a Fulbright Specialist at Universitas Bangka Belitung (UBB), where she is collaborating with colleagues from three institutions on a range of activities related to their American Studies program. Specifically, UBB is coordinating this 14-day Fulbright Specialist program (November 11-25, 2022), working with partner institutions – IAIN Syaikh Abdurrahman Siddik Bangka Belitung (IAIN) and Universitas Muhammadiyah Bangka Belitung (UMBB).

With a view to expanding international and cross-cultural connections and insights via this program, the Fulbright Specialist, Nina Asher, and the participants (combinations of faculty and students at each of the three institutions) are focusing on such areas as scholarly research, writing, and publishing; literature and folklore/folklife; women’s and gender studies; cultural studies; creative writing; popular culture and multiculturalism; and teacher education curriculum and pedagogy. Nina is delighted to spend two days making presentations and interacting with participants at each institution. In addition to lecturing and sharing relevant scholarly and pedagogical resources, Nina is presenting seminars and interactive workshops that involve participants in hands-on research, writing, discussion, and analysis.

Nina is happy to be able to share her background in postcolonial and cultural studies, multiculturalism in education; globalization; and women’s and gender studies with colleagues and students here in Bangka Belitung. Her prior international research experiences (e.g., as a Fulbright-Nehru awardee in India in 2014-15 and as a qualitative researcher in France in 2021-22 while on sabbatical leave) serve as an excellent foundation for this 14-day Fulbright Specialist assignment.