Elliot Frank '18 Chosen For 2016 Fulbright Summer Institute

Frank will research connections between U.K. and U.S. history and culture.

Elliot G. Frank '18, a University of Maryland (UMD) undergraduate student double majoring in math and English, has received a place on a Fulbright Summer Institute at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. This institute offers a four-week program for U.S. students and considered one of the most prestigious summer scholarship programs in the world. The theme of the institute this year is "Slavery and the Atlantic Heritage."

The aim of the program is to further the students’ understanding of the history and culture of Bristol, U.K. specifically as it relates to U.S. history. The students participating in the program will also have the opportunity to develop their academic skills and get involved in a variety of community and civic activities.

As an English major, Frank is interested in African American literature and the legacy of slavery in the U.S. His time at the Fulbright Summer Institute will enable him to gain experience conducting archival research related to slavery and the archaeology of the slave trade in Bristol. In addition, the program offers trips to culturally and historically significant sites such as the the Bristol City Council and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre.

“One of my goals is to explore the ways Bristol has reckoned with slavery, to see if Bristol has public memorials or museums about slavery and see how prominent they are,” Frank said. “As a white scholar it's important to try to turn my gaze back onto whiteness by doing research on who were the main beneficiaries of the slave trade in Bristol, and what is their legacy in Bristol.”

In the fall,  Frank is taking a literature course titled “Caribbean Literature by Women" with English Professor Merle Collins, where he will continue learning about the legacy of slavery and leverage his research experiences in Bristol.

Candidates for this award undergo a rigorous interview and application process. Recipients are chosen not only for their academic excellence, but also for their range of extracurricular and community activities and demonstrated ambassadorial skills.

The US-UK Fulbright Commission, created by a treaty in 1948, is part of the Fulbright Program, which was conceived by Senator William J. Fulbright.  The aim of the commission is "to foster mutual cultural understanding through educational exchange between the U.S. and the U.K."