Highlights
Student Profile: Hannah Gerrard
by Kaitlin Cavanaugh
Only about 10 scholars are admitted into the Department of English's PhD program each year. Last year, New Zealand native Hannah Gerrard was one of them. Gerrard is pursuing graduate work in the United States thanks in part to an award from the Fulbright Program. The prestigious international exchange program offers fellowships to students wishing to study and conduct research outside of their home country.
It is clear that Gerrard is grateful for the award and the opportunities it provides. "As well as making it possible for me to study in Pittsburgh, the fellowship includes opportunities to travel within the United States and meet other Fulbright grantees," says Gerrard. "There is a real sense of being part of a community of Fulbright scholars all over the world."
Gerrard earned a BA and MA (Hons) in English from New Zealand's University of Auckland. Following the completion of her degrees, she worked as a teaching assistant at the University of Auckland and as an editor at an educational publishing company. When it came time to choose a university where she could pursue a PhD, Gerrard says she was attracted to the University of Pittsburgh because of the English Department's outstanding composition faculty, welcoming atmosphere, and real commitment to pedagogy.
Now in her first year of the five-year PhD program, Gerrard is busy taking classes. Her concentration is in the area of composition, rhetoric, literacy, and pedagogy.
In line with the Fulbright Program's commitment to increasing international understanding, Gerrard will return to New Zealand for at least two years after she completes her doctoral degree. "The idea is that you put the knowledge you've gained in the United States into practice in your home country," she explains. Ultimately, Gerrard would like to pursue a career in university teaching and research.
