SPC Faculty Teaches in Hungary as Fulbright Scholar

2/22/2024

Last year, St. Petersburg College retired professor Dr. Li-Lee Tunceren spent a semester abroad teaching as a Fulbright Scholar at Eszterházy Károly University in Eger, Hungary.

A U.S. government flagship program of international educational and cultural exchange, the prestigious Fulbright Program offers students and scholars the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to mutual understanding in more than 160 countries.

Dr. Tunceren taught English as a Second Language (ESL) and composition courses at SPC for 33 years and was instrumental in starting SPC’s ESL/EAP program. In Hungary, she taught applied linguistics and teaching methods to upper-level education students, as well as professional development workshops for faculty. The experience allowed her to gain new cultural and academic perspectives to bring to her own classrooms and virtual teaching.

“I went into the Peace Corps right out of college where I taught in West Africa for four years. That’s where I found my love of working with people from other cultures,” said Dr. Tunceren.

Dr. Tunceren then completed her master’s degree at Columbia University and began her career as a Fulbright Junior Lecturer with the faculty of education at Cukurova University in Turkey. She has worked with SPC’s multicultural, Spanish and yoga clubs, and has led students on several trips with SPC’s Study Abroad program. She encourages students to take advantage of opportunities like these to experience other cultures and network for their future academic, personal and professional lives.

“Every single student we take abroad says it opens their eyes. It’s just something you can’t get in a book,” she said.

She says traveling abroad is also valuable for faculty and that the Fulbright program provides that opportunity while also increasing awareness of SPC and the Tampa Bay area. During her time in Hungary, she visited local high schools, participated in a college fair in Budapest, met other Fulbright Scholars, made connections with Hungarian faculty, and met individuals with organizations such as Education USA and the International Association of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL).

“Inevitably, there are networking opportunities that come from that. Even if I was just observing one of my students teach at a local high school, the students knew where I came from. That increases SPC’s exposure in the world,” she said.

Supported by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Scholar Program for academics and professionals awards more than 1,700 fellowships each year, enabling 800 U.S. Scholars to go abroad and 900 Visiting Scholars to come to the United States.

Dr. Tunceren, who retired in June, encourages other faculty to apply, stating her experience in Hungary was empowering and has given her ideas for updating curriculum, engaging online students, and being intentional in helping students engage with one another to encourage cross-cultural communications.

Learn more about SPC’s Study Abroad program or contact SPC’s Director of International Programs Frank Jurkovic at jurkovic.frank@spcollege.edu for questions.