Through the Fulbright Scholar Program and a partnership with Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, Associate Professor Dr. Jean Munn will take her research in in gerontological and aging studies to a whole new level during the spring 2016 semester.

Dr. Munn’s work in Prague will include several different roles including scholar, educator and mentor. Along with her research at Charles University she will be teaching at the university with the help of a translator. And because Charles University does not currently have a gerontologist in their social work department, she will also be mentoring a Czech doctoral student interested in gerontology. Dr. Munn is hoping that this will lead to a relationship allowing Czech doctoral students to study at Florida State University and for doctoral students at the FSU College of Social Work to come study in Prague. Along with her partnership with Charles University, Dr. Munn will also be working with a gerontologist at the Center for the Study of Longevity and Long-Term Care in Prague.

Her research will be focusing on a replication of some of her recent efforts in the United States working with social workers that have the difficult job of engaging with residents and their families of those in long term care facilities at the end of life. While in the Czech Republic, Dr. Munn will be interviewing social workers in Prague to see how they see their roles with residents who have an end of life experiences in their nursing homes. She hopes to be able to compare what the barriers are, how comfortable the social workers feel and how much engagement they have with residents and their families going through an end-of-life experience.

“For any fellowship or any type of professional development grant, I think you have to ask yourself what you really want to do. And go ahead and start applying for grants and fellowships because every time you fill out an application you really start to focus your research agenda and to build a network of people interested in the same areas. The application process in itself is a growth experience,” Dr. Munn emphasized.