2018-19 Fulbright: Abigail Miller

Abigail Miller, a political science, Russian and global studies major at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, has been awarded a Fulbright to teach English in Russia during the 2018-19 academic year.

Miller also has minors in art history, national security studies, and human rights and humanitarian affairs.

A graduate of Pius X High School in Lincoln, she wants to improve relationships between the United States and Russia and foster mutual understanding and cooperation.

Miller has formal training as an English as a Second Language tutor, having volunteered with Lincoln Literacy and Friends of Refugees in Lincoln. She also has a diverse academic background, which will help her teach English and explain American history, government and civics.

Miller has had several study abroad experiences in Russia. In 2015, she spent four weeks in Perm, studying the language and culture of the Urals. In 2017, she spent 12 weeks in Moscow, studying language at Moscow State University and participating in internships and volunteer opportunities at The New Economic School of Russia, the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art and the Pushkin Art Museum.

“I want to use art as a tool for diplomacy and learning,” she said. “Through art, I believe that greater cooperation, cultural sharing and understanding can be achieved. I am excited to return to Russia, a country whose culture and art I have studied since high school, and look forward to the upcoming year.”

During her Fulbright, Miller wants to create a project in the local community focusing on using art as a tool to shift personal perspectives and improve observational skills. By working with local artists, galleries and museums, she wants to create a workshop open to students and the public on how to be more observant of their surroundings by using classical art history techniques.