2018-19 Fulbright: Emma Himes

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Emma Himes has received a Fulbright award to work as an English teaching assistant in the region of Galicia, Spain.

A native of Omaha, Himes has majors in English, Spanish and global studies while minoring in digital humanities, history, ethnic studies and Latin American studies. She is also a member of the University Honors Program.

Himes has experience teaching English through the nonprofit Lincoln Literacy and also tutored English in Soria, Spain, in summer 2015. She went abroad again in summer 2016, when she was selected to participate in the U.S./U.K. Summer Fulbright Institute and attended the University of Bristol, studying the transatlantic slave trade. Himes spent fall 2016 studying human rights, gender studies and Spanish in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Himes has been very involved with international students at the university. She was a student ambassador to the Sub-Saharan African Exchange Students through the U.S. Department of State and served as a peer mentor to a group of Argentinian Fulbright exchange undergraduates last spring.

“I am returning to Spain with strong linguistic skills gained in Argentina, experience teaching English to children and adults, and enthusiasm to serve the Fulbright’s mission of strengthening the international connection between the United States and Spain,” Himes said. “I will be able to quickly immerse myself in the community and form lasting relationships with students, teachers and community members while in Spain.”

Himes’ Fulbright Community Outreach project includes leading a weekly English conversation group at a local public library to discuss such topics as Nebraska literature and poetry.

Building upon her experiences in digital humanities at Nebraska, Himes plans to pursue a Master of Science in Information. She said she hopes to focus on data analytics, social computing and user research design, working at the intersection of technology and civic engagement.