COD Justice Studies faculty member awarded Fulbright Scholarship to Turkey
Stacie Haen-Darden, Justice Studies adjunct faculty member at College of DuPage, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to teach juvenile justice rehabilitation, criminology and educational practices in Turkey during the fall semester of the 2022-23 academic year.
As a Fulbright Scholar, the Naperville resident will be a Senior Lecturer at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, a place she called home as an exchange student through the Rotary Youth Exchange program during her senior year of high school.
"This has been a dream of mine for so long," she said. "The reason I wanted to go back to Turkey, and specifically, Çanakkale, is that, when I studied and lived there, it changed the trajectory of my life. I have always wanted to go and not only give back, but also develop a partnership through academia. This Fulbright is so much more than an award to me. This is bridging two countries that are so close and dear to my heart."
Drawing from her nearly 20 years of experience establishing educational opportunities for at-risk and troubled youth, Haen-Darden will share her knowledge of best practices and foster international understanding through teaching, experiential learning and dialogues. She will explore topics including juvenile justice systems and theories; educational opportunities in juvenile centers; and rehabilitative practices.
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.
"Stacie's commitment to student success is evident inside and outside of the classroom," said COD Provost Mark Curtis-Chávez. "Through a long-standing partnership with the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, Stacie spearheaded a remarkable initiative that opened up college opportunities on COD's campus for students in juvenile youth centers. Her vast experience and cutting-edge research on juvenile justice rehabilitation will have an incredible impact on the Turkish students she teaches."
Haen-Darden hopes her Fulbright develops into a long-term partnership between COD and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University.
"It is an extraordinary honor and privilege to join the ranks of notable COD Fulbright alumni and become an ambassador for COD, the Justice Studies program and the United States through my project in Turkey," she said. "When you build these kinds of collaborative partnerships, you look at things differently than if you were just looking at it through an American vacuum. This experience is going to open up my mind and make me a richer educator."
Since its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has given more than 390,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to international concerns.
College of DuPage is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Serving approximately 21,000 students each term, College of DuPage is the largest public community college in the state of Illinois. The College grants seven associate degrees and offers more than 170 career and technical certificates in over 50 areas of study.