Matt Tibbitts recalls with gratitude the underpinnings of the prestigious Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Malaysia.
“I've been just incredibly fortunate to have wonderful mentors … Dr. (Susan) Trussler, who was the Fulbright advisor at Scranton and Professor (Harold) Anderson from the Health Administration Department helped guide me when I was trying to decide whether to apply,” Tibbitts said. “It was a daunting decision for me, having never left the country and not really understanding how I fit as a candidate. Both pushed me to take that leap and believe in myself and what I had accomplished.”
Career Advice
“Being a federal servant means signing up for something much larger than yourself and sticking it out. It’s looking for ways to do what's best for your country and your fellow citizens,” Tibbitts said.
Recent Reading List
“I read a lot of nonfiction about global events, and the book I'm reading right now is by Adam Higginbotham, about the Challenger explosion. His other book is about Chernobyl, a fascinating and tragic story. He's a gifted author… finding a way to get that across to people in a way that they can absorb it is so important.”
A Favorite Scranton Experience
“I found out that I was selected as a Fulbright scholar the day before Senior Day for lacrosse. I was able to tell my parents in person, and we got to celebrate together with my friends and all of our families after that game,” said Matt Tibbitts ’14.
As a four-year member of the men’s lacrosse team, Tibbitts appeared in 40 games and finished his career with 18 goals and 14 assists for 32 total points. He was a member of the 2011 team that won its first Landmark Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in school history. He was also named to the conference’s Academic Honor Roll in each of the past three seasons.
