Skip to main content

Birkbeck welcomes Fulbright Scholar

Birkbeck has welcomed Fulbright Scholar Kevin J. Dougherty, Associate professor of Education Policy at Teacher’s college, Columbia University, to study at the college in London.

Professor Ken J Dougherty (with thanks to Teacher's college, Columbia University)

Birkbeck has welcomed Fulbright Scholar Kevin J. Dougherty, Associate professor of Education Policy at Teacher’s college, Columbia University, to study at the college in London.

Based for the duration of his study at Birkbeck in the School of Social Sciences, History and Philosophy, Professor Dougherty has published widely on higher education in the United States, including on performance funding for higher education, the origins and impacts of community colleges, transfer between community colleges and four-year colleges, and public policies affecting access to and success in community colleges. 

At Birkbeck he will be examining the impact and alleviation of social class, race-ethnic, and gender disparities in the amount and quality of student information about higher education opportunities. 

Commenting on coming to study at Birkbeck, Professor Dougherty said:

“When I was looking for an opportunity to extend my research, Birkbeck stood out as an ideal choice – the opportunity to work with some of the very best international figures in the field, such as Professor Claire Callender, was a big draw and is a huge privilege.

“It is also wonderful to be part of an institution which has such a strong commitment to widening access to study for those who might not otherwise have the chance to experience it and gain a degree, which has been such a strong thread to my research over my career.”

Professor Dougherty will also be working with staff across the School at Birkbeck to explore the different ways students access information about higher education and the disparities which exist between different countries in this area, as well as potential ways to reduce them.

The Fulbright Programme is operated by the Fulbright Commission, offering funded opportunities to British and American scholars to study abroad in either country, with the aim of fostering stronger relations between the two nations.

Professor Dougherty joining the college comes at the same time as Birkbeck has been recognised as the 50th most international university in the world, in a new Times Higher Education ranking released this week.

The new ranking was based on the proportion of international staff at the college, as well as the level of international collaboration among academics and the diversity of the student body.


Further information:

More news about: