Grand Rapids, Mich. – Dr. Robert Marko, professor and chair of the theology department at Aquinas College, has been named a 2015-2016 Fulbright U.S. Scholar for the fall semester at the Ukrainian Catholic University in L'viv, Ukraine.

The Fulbright Program, aiming to increase mutual understanding between the people of the world, is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. The Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious awards programs worldwide, operating in over 160 countries. The highly competitive program for merit-based grants is geared towards students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists. It was founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946.

“Aquinas is very pleased and proud that Dr. Marko once again has been recognized with this prestigious award,” said Aquinas Provost, Gilda Gely. “It is extremely competitive on an international scale, so it’s exciting to see Aquinas making its mark in this global space.”

Marko will join the ranks of distinguished participants in the program. Fulbright alumni have become heads of state, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs, university presidents, leading journalists, artists, scientists, as well as teachers. Of the Fulbright alumni, 35 have been awarded Nobel Prizes and 78 have won Pulitzer Prizes.

Marko's scholarly project is titled "Facilitating Dialogue in a Religious and Culturally Diverse Ukraine: Resources in Western social ethics and Vatican II." He was also awarded a Fulbright in 2008 focusing then on what the Eastern Christian theological tradition brings to the West.