MISSOULA – Tori Bigelow, a University of Montana Master of Public Administration and Policy student from Missoula, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to conduct research in Greece during the 2020-21 academic year.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching and primary and secondary school teaching worldwide.
“The scholarship award will fund my research proposal, ‘From Initiatives to Policy: Equitable and Inclusive Access to Higher Education in Greece,’” Bigelow said.
Through the Fulbright grant, Bigelow will collect evidence on the barriers to access higher educational opportunities experienced by rural high school students in Greece. She then will share the analysis of her findings with Greek educators and policymakers.
The study will provide practical data to Greek officials seeking to improve access to higher educational opportunities in remote rural areas of the country, allowing for important strides toward equitable and inclusive opportunities for all students.
“Tori Bigelow is one of the MPA Program’s best and brightest,” said Dr. Sara Rinfret, director of the Master of Public Administration program. “Her upcoming Fulbright in Greece is a true testament to her tireless work to use research to advance the role of women and minorities in the workplace.”
“I have been inspired by the work done by (UM) to provide outreach and support to rural students,” said Bigelow, “and I hope my research can provide some influence to move Greece in that direction as well.”
“Our department is incredibly proud of Tori and her willingness to always promote a public service ethic,” Rinfret said.
For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://us.fulbrightonline.org/. For more on UM’s Master of Public Administration and Policy program, visit https://www.umt.edu/law/mpa/.
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Contact: Sara Rinfret, director of the UM Master of Public Administration Program, sara.rinfret@umontana.edu.