First Austria , now Finland . Europe is familiar territory for Donald Hall, Jackson Family Distinguished Chair in the Department of English at West Virginia University .

Hall has been selected for a Fulbright Senior Specialists project in Finland at the University of Helsinki , during the summer of 2006. He was previously appointed the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Cultural Studies at Karl Franzens University in Graz , Austria , for 2004-2005.

An internationally known scholar in the field of gender theory, Hall will teach a two-week doctoral seminar on gender and sexuality studies for the Christina Institute for Women’s Studies at the University of Helsinki . The seminar is expected to draw students from across Finland . During his visit, Professor Hall will also help develop interdisciplinary academic curricula and educational materials on sexuality studies for the University of Helsinki , and meet with students interested in pursuing academic studies at WVU .

Hall is one of approximately 400 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad in 2006 through the Fulbright Senior Specialists Program. Created in 2000 to complement the traditional Fulbright Scholar Program, the Senior Specialists Program provides short-term academic opportunities to prominent U.S. faculty and professionals to support curricular and faculty development and institutional planning at post secondary academic institutions around the world.

The Fulbright Program, America’s flagship international educational exchange activity, is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Over its 59 years of existence, thousands of U.S. faculty and professionals have taught, studied, or conducted research abroad, and thousands of their counterparts from other countries have engaged in similar activities in the United States . More than 285,000 emerging leaders in their professional fields have received Fulbright awards, including individuals who later became heads of government, Nobel Prize winners, and leaders in education, business, journalism, the arts, and other fields.

For more information regarding his Fulbright appointment, contact Professor Hall at 304-293-3107, ext. 33435 or at Donald.Hall@mail.wvu.edu .