Carmen Monica Paunescu
Lecturer, Department of Commodity Science and Quality Management, Faculty of Commerce, Academy of Economic Studies, Romania
Research: Tools and Techniques for Quality Improvement in the Six Sigma Vision
Host: Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
August 2004-July 2005

As a Fulbright Scholar at Loyola University New Orleans I took the opportunity provided by the Occasional Lecturer Program to visit and give lectures at three other institutions including minority-serving institutions. This experience has been the most exciting and challenging one I have had since my arrival to the United States.

During my Occasional Lecturer visits to St. John's University in New York, DePaul University in Chicago and California State University in Los Angeles, I spoke to faculty and students about the business environment, management practices and economy dynamics in Romania and Eastern Europe. Topics such as cultural differences between Romania and the United States, particularities of business etiquette in my home country or what you need to know to be successful in business in Romania attracted special interest from students who attended my presentation.

I also had the opportunity to share with faculty members the achievements of my research in Romania and, as a Fulbright Scholar, on the contribution of the Six Sigma methods and tools to the enhancement of quality educational services in higher education.

During my Occasional Lecturer visits, I had the great opportunity to meet and interact with former American Fulbrighters and to further extend my network of professionals for future projects. In addition to interacting and exchanging ideas with faculty and students, I was able to attend faculty research meetings and establish future professional collaboration with faculty at these institutions. My interaction with American faculty members has peaked my research interest to new perspectives and made me realize that I can learn a lot in U.S. universities. This revelation is a valuable contribution to the development of my personal and professional potential. The teaching skills that I have achieved as a participant in this program have further brought an important contribution to the enrichment of my professional development.

My experience as a participant in the Occasional Lecturer Program also helped me gain more exposure to different regions of the United States. I never realized it was possible to learn so much about a field I already knew so well simply by communicating cross-culturally.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Occasional Lecturer Program for its excellent services through which I was able to visit other American universities, to interact with faculty and students there and to blend my learning and insights with the experience of American professors to gain in-depth knowledge and special skills in my field of specialization.