S&T professor completes second Fulbright project

ROLLA, Mo. – Dr. William Schonberg, a professor of civil engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, is now a two-time participant in Fulbright programs for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and World Learning. 
 
In his first Fulbright role in 2019, Schonberg was a Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Advanced Science and Technology and conducted research at the Defense Science and Technology Group in Australia.  
 
More recently, Schonberg served as a Fulbright Specialist on a project with the University of Aruba in Oranjestad, Aruba, in late 2023.  
 
“The University of Aruba has relatively new bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in sustainable engineering, and I was asked to offer comments and suggestions on their development, as both programs are being considered for international accreditation,” he says.  
 
“It was rewarding to use the knowledge and skills I acquired being an evaluator for ABET, as well as a department chair and interim dean at Missouri S&T.” 
 
ABET is the acronym for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. 
 
As a Fulbright Specialist, Schonberg visited Aruba for four weeks. His visit was originally set for 2020, but this was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  
 
Fulbright Specialists are matched with projects at institutions across more than 160 countries. Host institutions apply to the Fulbright Commission and the U.S. Embassy after determining a need, and they can either request a specific expert in the associated field or be matched with a specialist who expresses interest. These projects last a minimum of two weeks and can be up to 42 days long. 
 
During his visit, Schonberg used his expertise to find ways to make the new programs — which are part of the university’s Sustainable Island Solutions through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics efforts — stronger and better prepare their students for meeting the challenges of sustainable development in the island of Aruba and elsewhere. He met with program faculty, staff, students and university administrators and visited laboratory facilities.  
 
Schonberg says he intends to keep an eye on the university’s progress toward accreditation and continue to help when possible. 
 
“I have a keen interest in the sustainability engineering degree programs at the University of Aruba, and I will be pleased to continue working with them as they continue to develop those programs and submit them for accreditation review in the near future,” he says.  

About Missouri University of Science and Technology
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.