Following an incredibly tough competition, the Warwick Graduate School looks forward to welcoming Matt Stephenson as our Fulbright scholar for the academic year 2011-12. Matt will use the award to study for an MSc in the Department of Economics.

The Warwick-Fulbright Scholarship is offered to one US citizen each year, giving them the chance to study for a one year Master's degree (or the first year of a PhD) in any subject at Warwick.

Growing up in nearly a dozen U.S. states, Matt finally settled on Denver, Colorado, attending Regis University. He graduated summa cum laude in Political Economy and received the Joseph Ryan S.J. award for excellence in the study of economics.

Drawn to issues of poverty and global development, Matt volunteered at a small microfinance organization in India in the summer of 2009. He returned to the U.S. with a research topic in economics inspired by his experiences in India, and this proposed research earned him recognition and grant support from the National Science Foundation the following year.

At Regis he also distributed clothing at an affiliated shelter, tutored students in economics and statistics, and consulted for a non-profit refugee organization. Matt is looking forward to joining the Warwick Department of Economics for his Fulbright year.

Professor Abhinay Muthoo, Head of the Department of Economics, commented:

"This is excellent news for the department, to have such an exceptional student on its Master's programme. My congratulations to Matt. We look forward to welcoming him to the department this September."

Professor Jackie Labbe, Chair of the Warwick Graduate School, also extends her congratulations to Matt and looks forward to welcoming him to Warwick. She said:

"I am delighted that once again we are privileged to host a Fulbright Scholar of such promise. Warwick values its continued participation in the Fulbright programme."

Potential applicants for the Warwick-Fulbright Scholarship for 2012-13 should consult the Graduate School for full details.