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QCC hits the trifecta as business professor becomes latest Fulbright Scholar

Contact: Karen Hutner
Office of Institutional Communications
khutner [at] qcc.mass.edu

Release Date: 
10/5/2017

WORCESTER, MA—October 5, 2017— Quinsigamond Community College now has the distinguished honor of being home to three Fulbright Scholars, with the recent award of a Fulbright to Dr. Flo Lucci, professor of Business Administration.

Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields. Dr. Lucci received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to Russia in Human Resources/Organizational Development for the 2017-2018 academic year.  She will head to Tyumen State University in Tyumen, Russia in early 2018 as part of a project to advance U.S. Organizational Development knowledge. Dr. Lucci will share information and expertise related to the community college education model. 

“Community colleges have evolved from local institutions to colleges that both benefit by a diverse student population, but also attempt to share global perspective through international education programming, short-term study abroad and collaborative partnerships with institutions abroad,” said Dr. Lucci. “International education is an explosively growing industry. With community colleges educating over half of U.S. college students, it is imperative that we embrace this sector and provide these opportunities for our students. The Fulbright Scholar Program has in recent years sought out faculty from community colleges, as there is great fascination across the globe in our education model. Fulbright programming can expand a faculty member’s view and access to collaborative teaching relationships as well as research connections.”

In 2010, Kathy Rentsch, dean of Business, Engineering and Technology, was awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant for the 2010-2011 academic year to participate in a community college administrator seminar in the Russian Federation. Ms. Rentsch participated in a two-day conference, “Higher Education for Tomorrow’s Professionals,” in Moscow, before traveling to Sochi, Russia to meet with counterparts from the Russian State University for Tourism.

“Sochi had just been selected as the site for the 2014 Winter Olympics when I arrived in Russia. As a result, I coordinated a Skype conference call with Professor Pat Hutchinson, in Hospitality & Recreation Management (HRM) so that hospitality management students in Sochi could discuss their ideas and plans for the upcoming event,” Ms. Rentech said. “The following year a delegation of administrators and faculty from Sochi visited QCC as part of an ongoing exchange between the two institutions. QCC HRM students planned a week-long series of events to mark their visit. The Fulbright seminar helped QCC to internationalize program efforts in HRM.”

In 2014, Dr. Trent Masiki, professor of English, was awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant and was able to lecture at the Universidad Autonoma de Chiriqui in David, Panama during the 2014-2015 academic year. Dr. Masiki taught Introduction to Writing Fiction and Creative Nonfiction with a course focus on U.S, Afro-American and Afro-Latino/ writers.

“At QCC the aptitude and knowledge of our faculty, coupled with their passion for the success of all our students is truly remarkable,” said QCC President Dr. Luis Pedraja. “Students at QCC learn from caring and committed educators who offer worldwide global awareness.”

QCC has also been host to Fulbright scholars from other countries. In the last four years scholars from China, Iraq and a group of 42 scholars from 26 different countries have visited QCC.

Established in 1946 by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program was designed to build lasting connection between the people of the United States and other countries. Fulbright alumni include 57 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 82 who have received Pulitzer Prizes, and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.

For more information about QCC, contact Josh Martin, Director of Institutional Communications at 508.854.7513 or jmartin [at] qcc.mass.edu

Quinsigamond Community College is the most affordable higher education in Worcester County. As a regional leader in education and workforce development, QCC serves the diverse educational needs of Central Massachusetts by providing affordable, accessible, and high quality programming leading to transfer, career, and lifelong learning.

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