Catherine Kingsley Westerman, associate professor of communication, has received a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to travel to teach, study and conduct research in Seoul, South Korea, later this year.
Westerman is set to teach an undergraduate course on leadership, influence and cultural differences at Ewha Woman’s University during fall semester. She also plans to conduct research focused on upward influence in Korea with a goal of learning more about how the Korean culture can use upward influence and communication to make changes in the workplace.
“I’m honored and excited to have the opportunity to represent NDSU and the U.S. on this trip to Korea in the fall,” Westerman said. “Winning a Fulbright award has been a dream of mine for a long time, so I am thrilled to be the recipient of a grant from the Fulbright Program.”
Westerman joined the NDSU communication department in 2013. Her research primarily explores supervisor-subordinate relationships and workplace friendships. She teaches a mix of upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses that cover these topics. Westerman has received awards at NDSU for her teaching and service.
“I’ve worked with a number of Korean co-authors, including Dr. Hye-Eun Lee, and I’ve published a few cross-cultural studies, all involving the U.S. and Korea,” Westerman said. “My career has now reached a point where I can devote attention to satisfying my curiosity about Korea, establishing a more involved relationship with Dr. Lee and making a connection with Ewha Woman’s University in Korea.”
Westerman is one of more than 800 U.S. citizens who will teach, conduct research or provide expertise abroad for the academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. 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.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program, which operates in more than 160 countries worldwide.
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