Resident Fulbright Scholar Conducting Research at C.W. Post

"The Fulbright Commission aims to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship." – Senator J. William Fulbright

Dr. Boyan Alexiev, associate professor in the Department of Applied Linguistics and Physical Culture at Bulgaria’s University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, is residing on the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University for a five-month period to conduct research through the prestigious Fulbright scholarship program.

Dr. Alexiev, age 59, has written 12 books, including five dictionaries. During his stay at C.W. Post, Dr. Alexiev will be writing a monograph on knowledge management and the methodology for creating an organized, successful learner’s glossary or thesaurus.

He will be working with Dr. Richard Smiraglia, a professor in the Palmer School of Library and Information Science. The Fulbright grant requires applicants to work alongside an American professor who is familiar with their research, and can attest to their capability of implementing the project proposal successfully. Three years ago, Dr. Alexiev published an article on "Terminology Structuring for Learner's Glossaries" in the Knowledge Organization Journal (2006, vol. 33/2), which was edited by Dr. Smiraglia.

"So when I decided that I should apply for the grant, it was only natural to turn to Dr. Smiraglia asking him to both edit my proposal and ensure advisory support during my five-month research at Long Island University," said Dr. Alexiev.

Dr. Alexiev will be staying on campus until June, in one of C.W. Post’s residence halls. His visit started in January of this year.

When Dr. Alexiev is not immersed in his research, he often attends social events on campus.

"I went to a jazz concert at Tilles Center and enjoyed the performance immensely, seeing young people play and sing like real professionals," said Dr. Alexiev. "Generally, I have excellent conditions to live and do my research on the Campus."

As a part of his work at C.W. Post, Dr. Alexiev will present the first Doctoral Colloquium this spring, which is Thursday, February 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Palmer School, room 362 (the doctoral classroom). The topic will be "Terminology as Organized Knowledge." Refreshments will be served at the event.

The Fulbright Scholarship program, originally created in 1946 by Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright in the aftermath of World War II, was designed to generate peace and cultural understanding between nations through educational exchange.

The U.S. Department of State sponsors the Fulbright Program. Approximately 6,000 new grants are provided annually to scholars, educators, graduate students and professionals. The program touts a list of such notable alumni as Sylvia Plath, poet; John Lithgow, actor; Milton Friedman, economist and 1976 Nobel Prize Winner; Craig Barrett, chairman of Intel Corporation, and Urs Hölzle, senior vice president of operations at Google.

The Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious exchange programs worldwide, operating in 144 countries and with 51 commissions, approximately 9,000 members and 300,000 alumni. Thirty-nine Fulbright alumni have won Nobel Prizes, which is more than those of any other academic program.

Posted: February 25, 2009