Erin Butler of Villanova, Pa., Receives Fulbright Award

PHILADELPHIA, PA (05/31/2012)(readMedia)-- Erin Butler, a recent graduate of Saint Joseph's University, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Peru. A Spanish and elementary education double major, she has minors in secondary education, Latin American studies and faith-justice. Butler excited to spend the next year teaching at an English Teacher Training College in one of Peru's provinces.

"I have always wanted to be teacher, and I've always loved Spanish," says Butler. "Learning to communicate in another language has always fascinated me. I became interested in Latin American Studies after spending a summer in Costa Rica. There, I realized that I had a real passion for Latin America."

Although this will be her first time in Peru, Butler became familiar with this region of South America after participating in a study tour in nearby Bolivia.

"The Andean region is amazing," she says. "The indigenous people, languages and cultures are all incredible."

During her four years at SJU, Butler has been active in the local Latin American community. She has worked in North Philadelphia's Centro Nueva Creación, as well as at Saint Francis Inn where she helped to provide meals for the homeless. As a senior, Butler interned at Independence Charter School teaching Spanish immersion, and she also split her teaching placement between Jenkintown Elementary School and Pottstown High School to complete her dual certification in Elementary and Secondary Education.

The accomplished student has been inducted into Kappa Delta Pi, the international education honor society, Sigma Delta Pi, the national collegiate Hispanic society, and Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit national honor society.

"After Peru, I plan to teach and then go to graduate school for either bilingual education, school psychology or speech pathology," says Butler. "I am not quite sure what I want to do in the future - but what I do know is that I want to speak Spanish every day."

Butler is one of five Saint Joseph's University students to be awarded a Fulbright this year.

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Contact: Carolyn Steigleman, Director of Communications for the Haub School of Business, 610-660-1355, csteigle@sju.edu

Background: Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1851, Saint Joseph's University advances the professional and personal ambitions of men and women by providing a demanding, yet supportive, educational experience. One of only 152 schools with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and AACSB business school accreditation, Saint Joseph's is home to 4,650 traditional undergraduate day students, 700 College of Professional and Liberal Studies adult undergraduates, and 3,600 graduate and doctoral students. Steeped in the 450-year Jesuit tradition of scholarship and service, Saint Joseph's was named to the 2012 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for General Community Service. The University strives to be recognized as the preeminent Catholic comprehensive university in the Northeast.