Program sends U.S. ideas to former Soviet nations
Jordan Power
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: News
Last update: 2/4/10 at 1:20 PM EST
Few students find themselves working toward a master's degree at a school they did not choose, especially if that school is more than 5,000 miles away from home.
But for Svetlana Doni, a fellow in Duquesne University's Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy, the move to Pittsburgh from her home in Moldova was a smooth one.
"I'm very happy with Duquesne," Doni said. "I think they made a good decision to send me here."
Doni came to Duquesne through the Muskie Fellows program, which U.S. Senator Edmund S. Muskie, D-Maine, founded in 1992 with the goal of educating students from former Soviet Union nations about U.S. economic and political systems.
The U.S. Department of State, which operates the program, selects colleges and universities to partner with the program and chooses which schools Muskie fellows will attend. Duquesne University began participating in the program in 1997.
The Muskie Fellows program was implemented the year after the Soviet Union dismantled, and according to Thomas McCue, director of graduate programs in Duquesne's Donahue Graduate School of Business, that is not a coincidence.
"This was a response, to some extent, to a country who was our enemy during the Cold War," McCue said.
McCue said that the program is partly an American attempt to influence the direction of foreign policies in countries formerly dominated by communism and anti-American sentiments.
"It was obviously directed at the old Soviet Union, because you have to be from a country that was in the Soviet Union to get [a fellowship]," he said. "I think it will influence foreign policy, but I think it's a very positive influence."
Joseph Yenerall, director of the Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy, agreed that the program was an attempt to broadcast American ideas.
"Bringing international students here is a way to showcase American institutions," Yenerall said.
The Muskie program covers at least one-third of tuition, and Duquesne provides six credits of tuition remission. Muskie students can only attempt nine credits at a time, which ensures that their entire tuition is covered. Yenerall added that housing and living expenses are covered by a stipend from the Muskie program.
But for Svetlana Doni, a fellow in Duquesne University's Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy, the move to Pittsburgh from her home in Moldova was a smooth one.
"I'm very happy with Duquesne," Doni said. "I think they made a good decision to send me here."
Doni came to Duquesne through the Muskie Fellows program, which U.S. Senator Edmund S. Muskie, D-Maine, founded in 1992 with the goal of educating students from former Soviet Union nations about U.S. economic and political systems.
The U.S. Department of State, which operates the program, selects colleges and universities to partner with the program and chooses which schools Muskie fellows will attend. Duquesne University began participating in the program in 1997.
The Muskie Fellows program was implemented the year after the Soviet Union dismantled, and according to Thomas McCue, director of graduate programs in Duquesne's Donahue Graduate School of Business, that is not a coincidence.
"This was a response, to some extent, to a country who was our enemy during the Cold War," McCue said.
McCue said that the program is partly an American attempt to influence the direction of foreign policies in countries formerly dominated by communism and anti-American sentiments.
"It was obviously directed at the old Soviet Union, because you have to be from a country that was in the Soviet Union to get [a fellowship]," he said. "I think it will influence foreign policy, but I think it's a very positive influence."
Joseph Yenerall, director of the Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy, agreed that the program was an attempt to broadcast American ideas.
"Bringing international students here is a way to showcase American institutions," Yenerall said.
The Muskie program covers at least one-third of tuition, and Duquesne provides six credits of tuition remission. Muskie students can only attempt nine credits at a time, which ensures that their entire tuition is covered. Yenerall added that housing and living expenses are covered by a stipend from the Muskie program.
Be the first to comment on this story
By posting an article comment, you agree to the Terms of Use policy.