Inspirational women through the eyes of Fulbrighters #2

For International Women's Month, we invited Fulbrighters to share stories of some of the most inspirational women they encountered during their Fulbright grant.

Margaret McKay

Ethnologist, Margaret MacKay has a long history with the University of Edinburgh. In the 1980’s she co-ordinated the creation of the undergraduate degree program in Scottish Ethnology and in the 1990’s was Director of the School for Scottish Studies and of its Archives. Dr. MacKay inspired me not only with her superb scholarship and her extensive knowledge of Scottish lexicography, music, material culture and more, but also with her tremendous generosity and kindness. Friendship, inclusiveness and service to the knowledge of all things Scottish is at the core of everything she does. When my Fulbright was cut short by the covid lockdown Margaret reached out to me and we communicated by phone. Her vast bibliographic knowledge, connections to scholars and musicians, her warm encouragement and her global perspective of Scotland were invaluable in enabling me to me continue to work. Recently, Dr. MacKay was deservedly lauded as Honorary President of the Saltire Society, Glasgow branch - an inspirational woman loved and respected by all who are fortunate enough to know her.

- Composer Margaret McAllister teaches at Berklee College of Music, Boston and was Fulbright Fellow, University of Edinburgh 2019-2020, where she collaborated with Gaelic/English poet Aonghas MacNeacail on a work that will be premiered August 14, 2023 on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Porntip Kanjananiyot

In 2005, while my Fulbright application was being processed in Washington, D.C., I was browsing the internet to become familiar with the Thailand-U.S. Educational Foundation (TUSEF) and its operations. I was looking for the contact information of the Director of the TUSEF. It was a coincidence that Ms. Porntip Kanjananiyot who was then the Director of TUSEF was in Washington, DC. She informed me via email that she will attend a conference in Seattle, WA. Not knowing anything about the outcome of my Fulbright application, I invited her to my college. When she visited Seattle, she met my late president, Ron Lafayette, my Dean, Nancy Verheyden, and other staff members. To keep it short, only a few hands-on executives like her go the extra mile to personally meet with potential Fulbright awardees. After coming to Thailand, I discovered she is the most famous person in the Thai academic circle. She left the TUSEF a few years ago but is still actively involved in its operations. She is special to me as a change agent. Not only she helped with my tenure, but she also inspired me to relocate to Thailand. I also met my Thai wife, which is her blessing.  To this day, I often meet her with my wife and have lunch together. Ms. Porntip is a people person who has transformed TUSEF into a regional hub for promoting excellence. Her contribution is worthy of mention in the “Women’s History” month.

- Kuldeep Nagi is a naturalized American citizen. He received his Fulbright Fellowship in 2005 to work as an online learning specialist, advise, and researcher at Assumption University of Thailand.