Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program Spotlight: Arsim Canolli

Seeking admission to a prestigious program like Fulbright Visiting Scholar requires a lot of preparation. To help you better understand the program and what it offers, we bring an insider’s perspective on the Fulbright Journey.  

We are continuing our Spotlight series with our Fulbright Visiting Scholar grantee, Arsim Canolli, a 2025/2026 Fulbright Visiting Scholar hosted at the University of Michigan.

For information on upcoming application cycles, please visit our website and the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo website (usembassy.gov). This is a joint program of the U.S. Department of State and the Government of Kosovo.

1. What is your educational and professional background?
I am a professor of anthropology at the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Prishtina. My current research focuses on how museums and exhibitions are used to narrate and interpret the past in Kosova.

2.  Why did you choose to apply for the Fulbright Program?
I admire the United States as a quintessential modern political project, and before this experience I had never been to the United States. I applied to the Fulbright Program to spend time engaging in research, reflection, and intellectual exchange within U.S. academia. I have long-standing collaborations with colleagues at the University of Michigan, and the program offered an ideal opportunity to deepen these relationships. It was also a valuable chance to learn firsthand about American society and academic life, rather than encountering them only through texts, media, or professional networks.

3.  Tell us about your experience as a Fulbrighter in the U.S.?
My experience as a Fulbrighter has been motivational - so much so that I could write a book about it. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the U.S. and was struck by the generosity, openness, and curiosity of the people I met. I participated in numerous lectures, conferences, workshops, and public events; visited a wide range of institutions; and was warmly welcomed into many American homes. I also had the pleasure of exploring the food culture of Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Michigan more broadly. Giving lectures and engaging in debates with students and colleagues was particularly rewarding. 

During International Open Access Week at the University of Michigan Press, I was delighted to have a valuable conversation with Dr. Nwachukwu Egbunike from Pan-African University Press (Lagos, Nigeria), where we discussed open-access publishing in our respective countries and shared experiences. I also shared the story of our journal, Kosova Anthropologica.

Whilst there, I read and wrote academic papers, but I also plotted a fictional book - a children’s novel. Having my family visit me during the stay added joy to the whole experience. My daughters loved Chicago.

4. What is the most valuable component you have gained from the program?
On a personal level, it was the opportunity to closely observe everyday social and academic life in the United States. Academically, the most valuable component was the dialogue I had with professors, students, researchers, and administrators at the University of Michigan, which significantly sharpened my thinking and helped refine my research projects.

5. How do you plan to implement the knowledge gained from the program at your home institution?
I plan to write. I plan to build on this experience primarily through writing and the development of new research projects. The program allowed me to test ideas, receive feedback, and establish collaborations that I will continue upon returning to my home institution.

6. How was the application process for you, and what tips do you have for prospective candidates?
The application process was easy. My advice to prospective candidates is not to hesitate or be overly self-doubting. Fulbright is one of the most supportive and rewarding programs available for researchers and scholars, so apply as soon as the opportunity arises.

7. What is your favorite place you have visited while participating in the Fulbright Program?
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

8. What is your favorite American dish/food?
My favorite American dish is Thanksgiving turkey.