Forsyth Tech Faculty Member Receives Fulbright Scholarship Herb Burns, Chair of Design Technologies, to Visit Russia

HERB BURNS

"Forsyth Tech has announced that Herb Burns, department chair of Design Technologies and program coordinator for Digital Effects & Animation, has received a Fulbright scholarship. Burns is one of five community college instructors and administrators selected to participate in the 2014 Russia Community College Administrators Seminar (CCAS), a project of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Burns will visit Russia from March 30 – April 12, 2014.

The Russia CCAS invites experts from across the United States to go to Russia to facilitate an understanding of how the American community college system works. Currently, Russia has no educational system equivalent to community colleges. This trip will provide Burns and his U.S. colleagues the opportunity to explain the unique collaboration that occurs between the American community college systems and this country’s industrial and manufacturing companies.

Burns’ trip will last two weeks and will include presentations and seminars in four cities: Kaliningrad, Arkhangelsk, St. Petersburg and Moscow. Burns and members of the Russia CCAS will meet with Russian university and college representatives, local administrators, and business and community representatives in these cities and will be participating in cultural activities.

“It is an honor to represent Forsyth Tech, the NC Community College System, and Community Colleges in America in this important international academic mission between our two countries,” Burns said. “My hope is that this trip will create an ongoing opportunity to advance international understanding, create opportunities to share new perspectives, and develop long-term relationships with our Russian counterparts.”

Burns received his A.A. degree from Lees Junior College, his Bachelor of Architecture from University of Kentucky, and his Master of Science in Interior Design from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has taught at Forsyth Tech for more than 30 years’ and has served as an adjunct faculty at UNCG and Salem College in the Interior Design Departments. He is a registered architect in the state of North Carolina.

Burns has received numerous awards for excellence in teaching, and leadership in education and technology. He has created and taught more than a dozen new courses relating to architecture, animation and digital design, and is recognized as an innovator in this field. His knowledge and skills are also known internationally. He has lectured on digital design, architecture and sustainability in Finland, Belarus, and Russia.

Burns is the second Fulbright Scholar at Forsyth Tech. Sylvia Haith, program coordinator of Sociology, was selected to travel to Central America earlier in her career at the college as part of this program.

Fulbright scholars rank among America’s most honored academics; 53 have won Nobel Prizes. The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs sponsors the Fulbright Program from an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress."

Submitted Press Release