DSU’s Dr. Kevina Vulinec Named Fulbright Ambassador

Dr. Kevina Vulinec, who because of her longtime research on bat species has been referred to as “batwoman” and as an “ambassador of bats,” has had her titled expanded to include “ambassador of international scholars."

Dr. Vulinec, DSU professor of wildlife ecology, has been named a Fulbright Alumni Ambassador who will help to promote the prestigious scholars program.

A DSU faculty member since 2001, Dr. Vulinec was a Fulbright Scholar in 2011. At that time, she won the competitive grant to lecture and do research in Brazil as part of her ongoing work on bat species. Since that time she has continued to work is support of the Fulbright Program in various capacities over the last five years.

Now she will visit other universities and colleges to talk about her experiences as a Fulbright Scholar and to share information about the program.

“It is quite an honor,” Dr. Vulinec said. “Fulbright is the flagship program for the Council of International Exchange of Scholars, and it fosters communications and scholarship among 160 nations.

Before going on the road for Fulbright, she will attend Fulbright presentation training in Austin, Texas. She said in addition to preparing her for the new Fulbright duties, the training site will have a great perk for her.

“They have all these bats that live under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin,” Dr. Vulinec said.  

According to the Bats Conservation website ( http://www.batcon.org/index.php/our-work/regions/usa-canada/protect-mega-populations/cab-intro ), the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin has the largest urban bat colony in the world, attracting hundreds of people every summer night to watch what is estimated to be 1.5 million bats fly from under the bridge to conduct their nocturnal activities.

Given the extensive research Dr. Vulinec has done in her career on bat species, the locale of her Fulbright Ambassador Training should be a great comfort zone for her.

For more than 70 years, the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, a division of the Institute of International Education, has served as the collaborating agency for the U.S. Department of State in administering the Fulbright Scholars Program. The worldwide success and stellar reputation of the Fulbright Scholars Program has been built on the talent, commitment and professionalism of scholars who have served as Fulbrighters at universities and research institutions in more than 155 countries.