Priscilla Magrath receives Fulbright Scholar Teaching Award

Priscilla Magrath, PhD, a senior lecturer at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar Teaching Award.

Magrath is one of seven U of A faculty members selected for the program. Stefano Guerra, MD, PhD, MPH, a professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson and the Zuckerman College of Public Health, the Henry E. Dahlberg Endowed Chair in Pulmonary Medicine and director of the Population Science Unit at the Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, was also named a 2025 Fulbright scholar. 

Image

Magrath will teach and mentor in qualitative research methods and global health at Universitas Jenderal Soedirman and Universitas Indonesia in the spring. Magrath, a medical anthropologist, said she will focus on topics that draw on her international experience and training in anthropology, such as cultural perceptions of health. There is increasing interest not just in Indonesia but globally for qualitative research grounded in the personal stories of people’s own experiences, she said. 

“My colleagues in Indonesia see the value in this and are keen to undertake qualitative research but lack training opportunities,” Magrath said. “Since qualitative research is not in the curricula yet, I will teach a series of seminars or short courses, and I will mentor faculty and students on their qualitative research projects.”

Magrath has traveled extensively for her work and was most recently in Indonesia last year mentoring a master’s in public health student as well as strengthening the U of A’s partnerships there.

“I’m so proud that Dr. Magrath has received this Fulbright award to work in Indonesia,” said Iman Hakim, MBBCh, PhD, MPH, dean of the Zuckerman College of Public Health. “She has distinguished herself as an exceptional teacher and inspiration for our students. Priscilla brings her extensive knowledge of international development and global health to train the next generation of globally oriented public health professionals. We’re so excited for her and for this opportunity to build further collaboration with our partner universities in Indonesia.”

Magrath said she’s looking forward to returning to Indonesia, which she calls “endlessly fascinating.”

“The culture is so rich, diverse and different from my own Anglo-Saxon culture, yet I find myself very comfortable there,” she said. “I find I can easily relate to the values — the focus on community, the warm hospitality, the caring for each other and the easy way in which people talk about the role of religion in their lives. Indonesian people are very welcoming and curious. I enjoy walking in my neighborhood and engaging in conversation, watching the children play in the street, and buying some fried bananas to share. It is relaxing but also highly stimulating. I always feel I am learning.”

At the U of A, Magrath said she enjoys giving students the opportunity to “direct their learning” through creative group work.

“I hope to experiment with these interactive teaching modalities in Indonesia,” she said.