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by Donna M. Farina, Ph.D., NJCU Professor of Multicultural Education and Fulbright Scholar, Tbilisi State University, Georgia, with editorial assistance from Ira Thor, Senior Director of University Communications

In October, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) recognized 43 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) as 2022 Fulbright HSI Leaders for their noteworthy engagement with the Fulbright Program during the 2021-2022 academic year. NJCU, which has long been a Fulbright leader, both in recognized scholars and participants, was by the State Department. Alumna Neena Sarin is one such Fulbright participant.

Neena Sarin ’00 (B.A.) and ‘15 (M.A.T.) immigrated to the U.S. from Jalandhar, Punjab, India in 2002. By 2009, with her two children now of school age, she could finally “slip out of the house” and think about her own aspirations and goals. Her first steps were to become active in the Jersey City Heights Head Start preschool program and sign up for adult English classes at the Five Corners Library on Newark Avenue.

Encouraged by the library teaching staff, Neena had her college credentials from India evaluated so that she could enter NJCU as an undergraduate in early childhood education, graduating with a B.A. in 2000. However, when Dr. Basanti Chakraborty noticed the quality of her work, a swift transfer was facilitated into the master’s program. To finance this opportunity, Neena began teaching in Jersey City Head Start. Dr. Muriel Rand encouraged Neena to develop further a storytelling lesson on Diwali (the Hindu festival of lights) that she had completed for an early childhood class. Neena began giving Diwali presentations at Five Corners Library; she then collaborated with the Jersey City Public Library system to institute a free Hindi language program for children.

The completion of Neena Sarin’s two master’s degrees in early childhood and special education opened up more possibilities for achievement. She began teaching at P.S. 27/Alfred E. Zampella Elementary School in Jersey City Heights and taking bilingual/ESL certification courses at NJCU, with advisement from Dr. Alexis Jeong Kim. Neena received her second NJCU master's degree (specialization bilingual education) and went on to be chosen as the Jersey City Public Schools Outstanding Bilingual Teacher of the Year.

In 2022, with guidance on her proposal from Dr. Donna Farina, Neena Sarin was selected to be a participant in the prestigious Yuva Hindi Sansthan (YHS) Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Program/Curriculum Development Project award. She traveled to India, where she studied sustainability and climate change with eleven other educators from across the United States. The curriculum created by this group is currently being piloted in both schools and universities.

Neena Sarin’s trip as a Fulbright participant enhanced her expertise in curriculum, expanded her knowledge of her home country, and whetted her appetite for travel.

For Neena’s next trip, she plans to take the road back to NJCU, when in Fall 2023, she begins courses in the Educational Leadership program for certification in supervision which will help her realize her latest dream—to become an educational leader.