October 24, 2006
The cultural diversity of Queens County, as well as that at St.
John’s University, was what initially impelled Michael Hostetler,
Ph.D., to live and work in what he calls “the most humanly diverse
100 square miles on the planet.” Now that he has been named a Fulbright Scholar for
2006-2007, he’ll have the opportunity to further enhance his
experience of diversity in January when he begins a four-month
teaching assignment at Ivan
Franko National University of L‘viv, in Ukraine.
Hostetler, an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech,
Communication Sciences and Theatre in St. John’s College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences, specializes in the history and criticism of
American public address and religious rhetoric. He believes that
Ukraine’s fledgling democracy requires leaders who understand and
practice democratic public discourse. The study of American
rhetoric provides such understanding.
At Ivan Franko National University, Professor Hostetler will
teach an elective course--“Seminar in Democratic
Discourse”--entirely in English, to 10 or 15 students a week. It
will be a “different role in a different structure” than that he
has experienced in the United States, he says, as he will have to
adjust to Eastern European pedagogical practices, which are quite
different from those in the United States. As Fulbright scholars
are customarily invited to speak at various conferences and
colloquiums, often at universities other than their host
institutions, he expects to do a lot of that too. Like other
Fulbright scholars, he will submit a written report at the end of
his sojourn.
Three other Americans—a sociologist, a linguist and a
lawyer--will be accompanying Professor Hostetler to Ukraine; two
will also be located at Ivan Franko University while the third will
be at Ukrainian Catholic University, also in L’viv. All were
required to attend an Orientation in Washington, DC this
summer.
In the Project Statement he submitted to the Fulbright
administrators, Professor Hostetler stated his belief that
“Competent public communication is essential for developing and
sustaining a vibrant democratic political culture” and might very
well be America’s greatest contribution to the world. “The history
and criticism [of American rhetorical texts] is an important source
for understanding the theory and practice of public communication
in a developing democracy.” He plans to combine the critical study
of rhetoric with practical public speaking skills in order to help
Ukrainian students develop greater competence in English as well as
greater appreciation of democratic communications practices.
Professor Hostetler’s Fulbright award is the second for St.
John’s this semester. Assistant Dean Frank Biafora of St. John’s
College was recently named a Fulbright Senior Specialist and is
currently in Vietnam where he is studying adolescent delinquency
and assisting in the creation of graduate programs at Hanoi
University .
Learn more about St.
John’s Fulbright Recipients.
Fulbright opportunities for the 2007-2008
still available.