Curry College Professor Awarded Prestigious Fulbright Scholarship

Muray will be researching the influence of French philosopher Henri Bergson on Mihaly Babits and Zsigmond Moricz, two major figures in early 20th century Hungarian literature, whose work anticipated contemporary environmental ethics. While at Curry College, Muray has taught about Bergson's life and work as part of his "Philosophies of Creativity and Process" class. Muray will be hosted by the Institute of Philosophy at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, where his father, Rev. Dr. Remus F. Muray, took his second doctorate, and wrote his dissertation on Bergson.

Muray had previously applied for the Scholarship in 1996, 1997, and 1998. He Muray is also one of Curry College's most prolific writers and has authored two books, along with 62 articles that have been translated into five languages.

"In my home institution, in the classroom and in faculty researchers' dinners as well as other settings, I seek to make people more aware of other cultures. I intend to continue sharing my experiences and travels-as well as the content of my research-in interesting ways that will stretch the international and global awareness of my audiences," Muray said about his Fulbright Scholarship. "Drawing a larger group of international students is critical not only to support those who do matriculate, but also to ensure that their voices can make a significant impact in our classrooms and across our campus culture."

Each year, the government-sponsored Fulbright Program awards nearly 8,000 grants allowing scholars, students, and professionals to study, teach, or conduct research abroad. Muray is Curry's third Fulbright Scholar. The late Joseph Schneider, an English professor, was awarded the scholarship twice. Criminal Justice and Sociology professor Dr. Magueye Seck won a Fulbright Scholarship in 2006, allowing Seck to teach in his home country of Senegal.

"The Fulbright Scholar award is among the most prestigious in higher education, and very competitive. It raises the prestige of all the Curry faculty, representing both national and international recognition for our work," said William Nancarrow, the College's Interim Dean of Faculty. "Dr. Muray is a wonderful colleague, friend, and scholar, and the award has both professional and personal meaning for him. Not only is it recognition of his scholarship and the value of his research, but an opportunity to return to the country of his birth."

– Written from a press release.