Bloxom, who majored in biology and public health studies, will pursue a master’s degree in global health at National Taiwan University.
Recent graduate Bonnie Bloxom ’19 has received a Fulbright grant that will support her pursuit of a master’s degree in global health at the National Taiwan University in Taipei City, Taiwan.
Bloxom, who majored in biology and public health studies, was an Elon College Fellow and Lumen Scholar. Her Lumen Prize research was “Examining the Jamkhed Model: A Collaborative, Comparative Study of Hypertension in Rural Indian Villages with the Comprehensive Rural Health Project.” She was mentored by Amanda Tapler, senior lecturer and interim chair in the Department of Public Health Studies.
“I feel incredibly humbled to receive this grant,” Bloxom said. “Not many people have the opportunity to study extensively outside the U.S., and I am looking forward to serving as an ambassador for the U.S. while also learning more about Taiwanese culture.”
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. Congress established the program in 1946 “to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.”
Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The Fulbright study/research awards are available in approximately 140 countries worldwide, with recipients enrolling in graduate programs or designing their own independent research projects in conjunction with affiliates in universities or relevant institutions abroad.
Originally from Salisbury, Maryland, Bloxom had extensive experience studying abroad during her time at Elon, including studying in Denmark in 2018 and participating in the Public Health Studies practicum in Costa Rica this year.
As an Elon College Fellow and Lumen Scholar, Bloxom traveled to India three times as part of her work with the nonprofit Comprehensive Rural Health Project, which delivers community-based health care, to examine health outcomes related to hypertension in rural India.
“This research has allowed me to recognize and understand the community, rather than myself, as the expert and has shaped my lifelong goals in uplifting the voices, stories and experiences of marginalized groups of people,” Bloxom said. “Elon has instilled in me a desire to be a global citizen and this opportunity allows me to put what I have learned at Elon into practice in Taiwan as a Fulbright scholar.”
After obtaining her master’s degree, Bloxom plans to pursue a doctorate in reproductive health or maternal and child health, with the goal of working for USAID or a similar organization.
Students and recent alumni interested in Fulbright U.S. Student Grants and other nationally competitive awards are invited to contact the National and International Fellowships Office.