Recent McIntire School of Commerce Graduate Wins Fullbright Award

Newswise — Rebecca Cooper (McIntire ’11) is one of seven UVA scholars to receive a Fulbright Scholarship to study abroad. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is an international educational exchange program sponsored by the federal government that is designed to increase mutual understanding among Americans and people of other countries. Cooper, a Commerce and Spanish graduate, will research microfinance and economic development in Paraguay. “It is an opportunity for the research and type of work I would like to do in the future,” she said. “I applied to get the once-in-a-lifetime experience in a developing country that I have heard everyone talk about, and I get to research something I’ve been very interested in.” The daughter of Wayne and Bonnie Cooper, Cooper was a member of the Phi Sigma Pi honor fraternity, a Harold G. Leggett Scholar for outstanding marketing, UVA Parents Committee summer intern, and a Day in the Life tutor. She has also worked for the ONE Campaign, a global advocacy group that focuses on alleviating world poverty. After her Fulbright research, Cooper plans to pursue a master’s degree in international development, international policy, or international development economics.