Foster Undergrad Receives Fulbright Scholarship

What does recent Foster graduate Monica Barrett (BA 2009) have in common with Javier Solana, the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief and Craig Barrett, Chairman of the Board at Intel? Each has received a prestigious Fulbright award.

Barrett learned of her award in April and is one of over 1,500 people traveling abroad for the 2009-2010 academic year through the Fulbright US Student Program, an international educational exchange mission sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

The award will allow Barrett to research business competitiveness in the European Union, specifically the factors that contribute to the success of business "clusters.” These clusters consist of interconnected businesses and institutions that are concentrated within a geographic area and focused on a particular industry. Think Silicon Valley.

The motivation behind the research

Barrett pursued a Fulbright to continue research she began during an internship in France while earning her Certificate of International Studies in Business (CISB) at the Foster School. “It was at the internship in Lille that I learned about the European clusters, and I became enthralled with the potential they possess. These clusters have motivated me to research and understand them—my reason for applying for the Fulbright,” Barrett said.

To develop an understanding of why some clusters succeed, Barrett will conduct exploratory research at two aerospace clusters in the European Union: the Bristol Aerospace Consortium in Bristol, United Kingdom, affiliated with the University of Bath, and Aerospace Valley, in Toulouse, France, affiliated with the École Supérieure de Commerce de Toulouse.

The Foster experience

Barrett arrived at the Foster School in 2007 after completing two years of study at the US Military Academy at West Point. It didn’t take long for her to immerse herself in the Foster experience inside, and outside, the classroom.

An Honor’s Program student and regular on the Dean’s List, Barrett also found time to participate in clubs such as the Undergraduate Management Consulting Association, Undergraduate Women in Business, and Social Entrepreneurship Club. She also traveled abroad as part of Foster’s Global Business Brigade, helping to develop sustainable business practices for a Panama coffee co-op.

But, it was her participation in the CISB program that led her toward the Fulbright scholarship. “The first question I asked when I returned from my study abroad was ‘how can I go back,’” said Barrett. It was a question she posed to Andrea Gomes, assistant director of Foster’s Global Business Center, who encouraged Barrett to apply for the Fulbright scholarship.

Following Barrett

Barrett, who arrived in England in September, is detailing her experience via her blog, The Fulbright According to Monica.