William Hills, a professor of psychology in Coastal Carolina University's College of Science, has been awarded a Fulbright to Poland for 2018-2019 to teach students at the Medical University of Lublin and work with colleagues there on the importance of gerontology education.

As part of the Fulbright grant, Hills will examine how health and social services are provided for older adults in Poland. This research will, in turn, help establish for gerontologists in Poland and the U.S. a basis for the exchange of best practices information for service development and delivery.

"When considering global aging, it's important for gerontologists of various countries to see commonalities of aging processes rather than distinctions," Hills said. "This focus allows us to look beyond national boundaries, find our shared interests, and learn from one another."

Hills received a Fulbright in 2013 to teach at Russian State Social University in Moscow and participated in a Fulbright-Hayes Group Study project to Poland in 2003. CCU has 19 Fulbright scholars among its current faculty and staff, and 12 former Fulbright scholars among its retired faculty and staff.

"I'm proud to represent Coastal Carolina University in these efforts," Hills said. "It is clear that while global aging is considered a major accomplishment of the 20th century, the 21st century will be largely defined by how successfully countries of the world integrate looming older adult concerns into the challenge of creating opportunities for all citizens to age successfully."

Hills is one of approximately 1,100 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program in 2018-2019. The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, a division of the Institute of International Education.

Over the last seven years, nine Coastal Carolina professors have received a Fulbright award to work in Russia, Austria, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Madagascar, Norway, the United Kingdom, and now Poland.

"This award for Dr. Hills is significant in that it links together his work in gerontology education in the U.S. and Russia," said Darla Domke-Damonte, associate provost for global initiatives at CCU. "His previous Fulbright efforts have resulted in collaborative research and publishing opportunities for colleagues in the USA and abroad, and we are excited to see what connections this Fulbright Award will bring for Coastal."

Read more about Hills' collaborative work with Russia on gerontology here.

The Fulbright Program is an international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The program operates in more than 155 countries and has given more than 318,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, scientists and other professionals the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

In 2017, Peter Seifarth became CCU's first student to receive a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Study/Research Grant. He conducted research on physical theatre in Nepal during the 2017-2018 academic year, returning last month.