The English Department of the Faculty of Letters (UAIC) are delighted to announce that our colleague, Dr. Florina Năstase has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright Visiting Scholar grant at Spelman College, Atlanta, GA.

During her six-month scholarship (September 2025 – March 2026), Dr. Năstase will conduct research in the Audre Lorde Archive, working with the Spelman Archives, the English Department, and the Women’s Resource and Research Center. Her project explores Audre Lorde’s travels to and writings about Cold War Berlin and the USSR, with a particular focus on the poet’s literary and political perception of Eastern Europe and the Eastern Bloc.

Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a globally recognized liberal arts institution and one of the most distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. Dedicated to the education and empowerment of Black women, Spelman has long been a center of academic excellence, leadership, and social justice, and it is a proud member of the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC), the world’s oldest and largest consortium of historically Black higher education institutions.

This remarkable achievement not only highlights Dr. Năstase’s dedication to literary and cultural research, but also brings honor to our academic community by building bridges between Romanian scholarship and a leading U.S. institution rooted in history, resilience, and intellectual creativity.

Beyond the prestige of the grant, this success is a testament to Dr. Florina Năstase’s brilliance as a scholar and educator. She is a phenomenal researcher, a top-of-the-line academic, and a professor who consistently brings her very best to every project, every classroom, and every collaboration. Her Fulbright appointment at Spelman is not only well deserved, but also deeply inspiring to colleagues and students alike.

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Năstase’s achievement and confident that her research and presence at Spelman will spark new insights, connections, and possibilities. Congratulations, Florina! You carry with you the admiration of your faculty and our best wishes for this extraordinary journey!