Two OU professors have the opportunity to serve as ambassadors next year, becoming a liaison between the United States, OU and the world--or at least two countries.

Cesar Ferreira, associate professor of Spanish, and Randolph Lewis, associate professor in the Honors College, were selected for the 2005-2006 Fulbright Scholars Program.

Lewis will teach graduate courses in American Studies at Universita degli Studi di Catania in Catania, Italy, in spring 2006 for six months and Ferreira will spend the fall 2005 semester teaching Latin American literature at the Universidad de San Marcos in Lima, Peru.

Both Lewis and Ferriera said they were ecstatic about the opportunity to travel abroad and share their knowledge with other students.

"I'm so excited about having the chance to teach in Italy," Lewis said. "I think Fulbright looks for scholars whose work would be of interest to the host country, and I got lucky because the Italian university was interested in my research on U.S. media topics."

The Fulbright Scholars Program sends 800 U.S. faculty and professionals overseas each year and gives them the opportunity to lecture and conduct research in various academic and professional fields.

To be eligible for the Fulbright Scholars Program, applicants must possess a Ph.D. or an equivalent professional or terminal degree, have college or university teaching experience, be proficient in a foreign language and several other requirements.

Ferreira said he has been to Peru many times and lectured at the Universidad de San Marcos, but visiting can't compare to the chance to teach for five months at one of the oldest universities in the Americas is outstanding.

"It's been so hectic and busy that I almost forgot I had applied and then I had a wonderful surprise in the mail," Ferreira said. "It's going to be an exciting experience to be able to teach in an institution with such tradition and history such as San Marcos."

In addition to teaching at their host universities, both professors have goals of their own they want to accomplish.

Lewis, whose wife has a dual citizenship in Italy and United States, is taking Italian language courses this year and hopes his time in Italy will help him become more fluent.

"I'm very intersted in Italian cinema and my wife is Italian, so I want this experience to be the first step in a life-long connection to the Italian culture," Lewis said.

While Lewis received a lectureship grant from Fulbright, Ferriera earned the Fulbright Research and Lecture Grant.

During his time in Lima, Ferreira will research autobiographical writing, fiction that deals with the life of authors through memoirs and diaries.

"Latin American writers are very socially committed and often times they are asked to express themselves through literature, politics and social issues," Ferreira said. "They have become a collective voice for society and their life stories are just as interesting as the ones they produce."

Several students said Lewis is the perfect candidate for the Fulbright Scholars Program because he has a unique ability to connect with his students and keep them engaged.

Eddie Coates, University College freshman, who takes Approaches to Media, an Honors class, said Lewis finds ways to stimulate his students' thinking without being overbearing.

"Dr. Lewis does a much better job of making things interesting and you can tell he is interested in them himself," Coates said. "He is definitely a people person and knows how to keep even a simple conversation going."

Marcia Haag, assistant professor of linguistics, said Ferreira is well-known throughout the modern language department.

Haag said Ferreira is the leader in the department and influences people because of his high standards and fair opinions.

Both professors, their colleagues and students said the Fulbright program is a good opportunity to show the world what America is like, especially in light of the country's somewhat combative reputation.

"I think as Americans we tend to look inward a little too much and we don't understand what's going on globally because we don't just put enough emphasis on learning other languages and other countries," Lewis said. "It's about making connections and I'm excited and honored to be apart of program that will help us get there."
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