{"id":12820,"date":"2025-08-29T09:19:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T14:19:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwtest.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/?post_type=campus_story&p=12820"},"modified":"2025-09-02T10:11:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T15:11:34","slug":"determined-uwo-alumna-selected-as-prestigious-fulbright-scholar","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/wwwtest.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/determined-uwo-alumna-selected-as-prestigious-fulbright-scholar\/","title":{"rendered":"Determined UWO alumna selected as prestigious Fulbright Scholar"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

Time was running out for a University of Wisconsin\u2013Oshkosh alumna who applied a third time for a coveted Fulbright Scholarship.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ariana Blair, a 2021 UWO graduate, earned a prestigious Fulbright
\naward to work toward a master\u2019s degree in Peace Studies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThis was going to be my last year of applying,\u201d said Ariana Blair, a 2021 UWO political science graduate who persisted after her hopes were dashed two previous years. \u201cI knew I would need to figure out a future path without this avenue, to achieve my master\u2019s degree.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blair, who grew up in the small community of Marathon, Wisconsin, received a magical email letting her know she was named a 2025-26 Fulbright Scholar. Beginning this fall, she\u2019ll study abroad at Tampere University in Finland, as she works toward a Master of Social Sciences degree in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research. Blair\u2019s master\u2019s program is fully funded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had been checking my email for months in anticipation when I received the determination letter. I came across the email and I was in shock,\u201d Blair recalled.<\/p>\n

UWO Professor and Fulbright advisor Marianne Johnson, said Blair is part of a very select group. Just 20% of the applicants are chosen, Johnson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing,\u201d Blair said of the honor. \u201cI have to pinch myself to make sure I\u2019m not dreaming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Small town start<\/strong><\/p>\n

A first-generation student, Blair began her UWO college journey at a two-year campus at Wausau, about 15 miles from her home. She worked on her general studies before transferring to Oshkosh for its international studies and political science programs. The experience broadened her worldview\u2014there were just 62 students in her graduating high school class. In addition to her international studies major at UWO, she earned a minor and emphasis in political science.<\/p>\n

She had hoped to study abroad as an undergraduate but the COVID-19 pandemic hit in spring of 2020\u2014she had been accepted at the University of Marburg, Germany, but by the time vaccines became accessible to the public and border restrictions eased, she had already graduated.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ariana Blair, who persisted and applied a
\nthird time, was thrilled to learn she was
\namong a select group chosen as
\n2025-26 Fulbright Scholars.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Several of her UWO instructors inspired her to pursue a career path that she hopes may someday involve the state department and she appreciated their ability to share their lived experiences: Tracy Slagter, instructor and co-advisor of Model U.N.; the late professor James Simmons, who held lively politics classes; and Michael Jasinski, an expert in Russian politics who sometimes explained with the use of memes. Blair recalled how memorably, he would show them a Russian website and explain Russian wording and Russian meme culture.<\/p>\n

Her studies as an International Studies major encouraged her to become bilingual in German. She plans to extend her knowledge and appreciation of the German language through continued independent study and by conversing with others fluent in German. She plans to learn about Finnish culture and society and begin language courses in Finnish.<\/p>\n

Experiences<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blair\u00a0 was a refugee resettlement case manager in Wausau with the non-governmental organization Ethiopian Community Development Council, known as ECDC. As a reception and placement refugee resettlement case manager, she assisted with their initial three months of adjustment from their arrival at the airport to the time they are self-sufficient with their first job.<\/p>\n

Blair also managed specialized programs that extended the three months for eligible clients. She said by learning about the issues concerning economic and humanitarian crises, political unrest and issues affecting specific cultures and groups she served, she has a deeper understanding of the issues certain religious, political and ethnic groups face worldwide.<\/p>\n

\u201cRefugee resettlement work is challenging, but equally rewarding,\u201d she said, noting that she saw great strides in the months she worked with each family assignment. \u201cI\u2019d watch how their sufficiency grew, along with their cultural adjustment and English language skills. It was rewarding being able to communicate without interpretation services and celebrate their advancements.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blair said her work and the interactions with her UWO classmates provided international exposure and helped broaden her understanding.<\/p>\n

Third time\u2019s the charm<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Marianne Johnson<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Johnson, the Fulbright advisor, said Blair was a semi-finalist the first two times she applied to the Fulbright program.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think what made the difference for Ariana this time was her work with refugees\u2014real world experience in support of her application for a master\u2019s degree in Peace Studies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnson pointed out that Blair intended to study abroad but her plans were derailed by the pandemic, so her Fulbright selection is that much sweeter. Blair is ready to build on her UWO foundation\u2014an experience that helped define her future goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter completing my (master\u2019s) schooling from Tampere University, I will use my study abroad experience and education to pursue a career in the U.S. Department of State as a political officer,\u201d she said, adding that she aspires to work at the State Department concerning Northern European politics, transnational conflict and resolution.<\/p>\n

Blair said she is excited to build upon her academic background and she credits UW\u2013Oshkosh with providing a strong footing.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cI would definitely recommend UW\u2013Oshkosh,\u201d she said. \u201cThe professors are very knowledgeable and many of them have lived experiences. UWO provides a really great foundation\u2014especially for students interested in international studies or political science.\u201d<\/div>\n

Learn more:<\/strong><\/p>\n

UWO Fulbright program<\/a><\/p>\n

Model United Nations (U.N.) at UWO<\/a><\/p>\n

International Studies at UWO<\/a><\/p>\n

Study political science at UWO<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Written by Laurie Schlosser<\/p>\n

Link to original story: https:\/\/www.uwosh.edu\/today\/127664\/determined-uwo-alumna-selected-as-prestigious-fulbright-scholar\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Time was running out for a University of Wisconsin\u2013Oshkosh alumna who applied a third time for a coveted Fulbright Scholarship. Ariana Blair, a 2021 UWO graduate, earned a prestigious Fulbright award to work toward a master\u2019s degree in Peace Studies. \u201cThis was going to be my last year of applying,\u201d said Ariana Blair, a 2021 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":12823,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","institution":[94],"story_category":[],"class_list":["post-12820","campus_story","type-campus_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","institution-uw-oshkosh"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwtest.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story\/12820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwtest.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwtest.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/campus_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwtest.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwtest.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12820"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwtest.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwtest.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"institution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwtest.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/institution?post=12820"},{"taxonomy":"story_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwtest.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story_category?post=12820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}