Iris Junker ’24 Earns Fulbright to Taiwan

Iris Junker ’24 has earned a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Taiwan for the 2024-2025 academic year and will be teaching English in Taitung. “I look forward to connecting with local culture and people!” says Junker, an East Asian Studies major who minored in art history. “I’m especially excited to improve my teaching skills and personal Mandarin proficiency.”

Junker, who is from Chicago, studied abroad in Taiwan while at Oberlin and is excited to return there post-graduation. “Taiwan also has an interesting indigenous peoples history; Taitung in particular holds a large population of Taiwanese indigenous Amis peoples,” Junker says. “I’m excited to learn more about different cultures and learn through the community and museums in the area.”

How did Oberlin influence you to pursue the Fulbright?
The Chinese professors in the East Asian Studies department were my main support system and inspiration for continuing my Mandarin studies. Professors Fang Liu and Hsiu-Chuang Deppman have been my main pillars for pursuing my interests in East Asian Studies; I really appreciate everything they have done for me. Taking Chinese classes with the department has made me interested in foreign language pedagogy, leading me to apply to the Fulbright. 

Furthermore, Associate Professor of Art History and East Asian Studies Bonnie Cheng’s class on “Cultural Property” was a turning point for me. It inspired me to pursue my interests in museum studies and provenance research for East Asian art and objects. 

Working at the Allen Memorial Art Museum was also a perfect combination of my interests in education and East Asian Studies. Being a gallery guide gave me opportunities to learn more about education outside of a classroom environment while also gaining access to the Allen’s amazing Asian Art collection. 

Working with Eric and Jane Nord Family Curator of Education Jill Greenwood and Joan L. Danforth Curator of Asian Art Kevin Greenwood expanded my interests, and their support encouraged me to pursue my interests in East Asia, education, research, and museums.

How does pursuing the Fulbright align with your post-college life and career goals?
Fulbright opens a myriad of opportunities as someone who enjoys learning and will continue to do so, even after my time at Oberlin. [The experience] will help me develop skills in both the Chinese language and education. Living and learning independently while also learning how to teach is another invaluable experience that I believe will serve me well in the future. During the program, I hope to volunteer at local museums. I want to work in museums and the education world professionally, so interacting with the community as well as learning about local culture and history will be a great experience.

What’s the best advice you’ve received from your Oberlin faculty mentor?
The best advice I have received has been from my capstone advisor Professor Dominic Toscano from the East Asian Studies department: 

"There is no need to have your life figured out after college; taking the time and space to learn what you enjoy and finding yourself in different work or program environments is just as valuable as going to graduate school. Furthermore, there’s no point in pursuing a graduate degree if you aren’t passionate about what you are learning. Before graduate school, take time to learn more about yourself. If more school is part of your pathway to your ideal professional landscape, then go for it! If not, then that’s just as fine as not going. 

While I see myself going to graduate school in the future, professor Toscano’s advice helped me decide that I wanted to accept the Fulbright award and spend some time working before pursuing any more education."

Activities in which you were involved at Oberlin: Co-chair of Adopted Obies Club; As I Am (Asians In AMerica), Asian American student arts and literary magazine.

If you’re a rising or graduating senior interested in Fulbright, connect with Fellowships & Awards to learn more about pursuing research or an arts project, obtaining a graduate degree, or teaching English in a foreign country of your choice following graduation.