JFDP Alumni

JFDP Goals and Azerbaijan

Abdullayeva, Asuda

On February 2, 2009, Asuda Abdullayeva (JFDP 2008-2009, American Studies) held a presentation for faculty members of her host institution, Youngstown State University (YSU) in Ohio. The attendees included faculty members of YSU’s English Department, who advise Professor Abdullayeva during her Fellowship. There were professors, assistant professors, instructors and other staff of the faculty. Dr. Shearle Furnish, Founding Dean of YSU’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS), and Dr. Gary Salvner, Chair of the English Department were among the audience as well.

The presentation covered the goals of JFDP and also information about her home country, Azerbaijan. First, Professor Abdullayeva spoke about the JFDP Fellowship. She explained that it’s a United States Government Program sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State, and administered by American Councils for International Education. She mentioned the participating countries it’s held in, and other program parameters.

About Azerbaijan, Professor Abdullayeva spoke about it’s location, economy, wealth, natural resources, population, and a specific focus on its educational system. After the presentation the audience asked me a lot of questions willing to get much more information about Azerbaijan and JFDP. As a result of this presentation, she was invited to make additional presentations for other groups.

Asuda Abdullayeva is associate professor at the Faculty of Foreign Languages of Lankaran State University in Azerbaijan.