UC Doctoral Student Returns Home From Summer Fulbright Fellowship in South Africa Date: Aug. 28, 2000 Story and photos by: Dawn Fuller Phone: (513) 556-1823 Archive: General News A University of Cincinnati doctoral student in the College of Education's educational foundations program is back from an intensive Fulbright summer study program at the University of Natal in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Cincinnati native Stefeni Stallworth was one of 12 people selected for a special study group which included students from Yale, Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley. While in South Africa, Stallworth's proficiency in Zulu increased as she used the language for daily interactions. She first studied Zulu while earning her master's degree in African studies from Ohio State University. "This is the place where Ghandi fled, when India was seeking independence from England," says Stallworth. "It's a diverse environment about one-third Indian, a third African and a third European. At the University of Natal, English is the universal language, but it's an 80 percent Zulu speaking environment outside the university area." Stallworth grew up in Lincoln Heights and attended Princeton High School. She majored in English and political science at Fisk University in Nashville before earning her master's degree from Ohio State University. Her doctoral studies at the University of Cincinnati include working as the director of training for the Urban Center for Peace Research Implementation Development and Education (UC PRIDE), which conducts research and provides certificates of study in urban and peace education. "Given these areas of interest and expertise, Stefeni is particularly well-equipped to pursue research on South Africa's groundbreaking efforts in the areas of school desegregation as well as the (South African) Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In Stefeni's case, the Fulbright will support one of the University of Cincinnati's finest examples of its pursuit of a global education mission," says Stallworth's advisor, UC Educational Foundations Professor Marvin Berlowitz. Stallworth says she's interested in doing more research on South Africa's educational system. Her exploration of other cultures is building her expertise at home. In addition to her studies, Stallworth has worked as an adjunct instructor at UC Clermont College for a class that examines different techniques on classroom management. "I think people are finally starting to see that conflict resolution is not only a preventative measure in schools, but it also paves the way for open communication, allowing people to be able to hash things out, agree to disagree and still walk away feeling okay. I hope to expand conflict resolution locally, nationally and internationally," says Stallworth. Now in its 53rd year, the Fulbright program is administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. State Department. The program provides opportunities for lectures, seminar participation, and research in 130 countries.