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Contact: Tracie Stone
Ph: 603-493-2647
E-mail: Tracie.Stone@granite.edu

GRANITE STATE COLLEGE PROFESSOR AWARDED 3RD FULBRIGHT FELLOWSHIP
Art Professor, Claudia Michael to Visit Morocco as Fulbright Fellow

February 19, 2008 - MANCHESTER - Granite State College art professor Claudia Michael has recently been awarded a Fulbright-Hays Fellowship and will be spending six weeks this summer in Morocco studying the impact of globalization and modernization on the country’s culture. This is Michael’s third Fulbright award since 2001.

“I hope to learn more about Islamic art and its influence on Moroccan traditions,” said Michael. “I know I will find a way to weave new knowledge into courses that I teach for Granite State College.”

Michael will leave for Morocco in late June and stay through the month of July as part of the 2008 Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program. She will spend one week in the capital of Rabat immersing herself in the culture of the country. Throughout the remainder of her stay, Michael will attend seminars on topics including education, art and music, women in Moroccan society, Moroccan economy and the traits of Islam in Morocco.

Michael’s Moroccan travels will take her from Rabat to the Imperial Cities of Meknes, Fez and Marrakesh. She will visit the country’s commercial district and rural areas including the Middle Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert. Michael will also spend four days living with a Moroccan family and plans to end her visit painting local landscapes and sites of interest.

An adjunct faculty member with Granite State College since 1999, Michael currently teaches Introduction to Drawing, Introduction to Watercolor and The Creative Process in Art. Over the years she has developed a variety of special topics courses for the College and was named “Outstanding Faculty of the Year” in 2004 and honored by the College with the “Ðistinguished Faculty Award” in 2007.

Michael received her first Fulbright award in 2001. Her travels to Japan resulted in the development of a course on Asian aesthetics which is now taught at Granite State College.

Michael received her second Fulbright award in 2004. This Fulbright-Hays award allowed her to travel to Turkey and Cypress. It was during this trip that Michael was introduced to “ebru” or Turkish paper marbling which she now includes in her Artists’ Books class.

Established in 1946, The Fulbright Program strives to promote a mutual understanding between people of the United States and other countries.

The Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program provides educators and administrators charged with curriculum development in the fields of humanities, languages and area studies with overseas experience.
Granite State College is one of four University System of New Hampshire institutions and a leader in online education. It offers associate and bachelor degrees, post-baccalaureate programs for teacher education and transfer opportunities.

With nine academic centers located throughout New Hampshire, Granite State College is committed to delivering affordable and convenient access to higher education via innovative programming.
Learn more about Granite State College by visiting www.granite.edu.