Senior lecturer Elsa González Simón will spend four months at Rutgers University–Newark as part of a transatlantic research exchange on activism and identity.
Date: 23 July 2025
Elsa González Simón, a senior lecturer in the School of Social Sciences and Professions at London Metropolitan University, has been named one of just twelve academics across the UK to receive the prestigious Fulbright-Rutgers Newark Scholar Award.
This distinguished honour is part of a broader initiative led by the US-UK Fulbright Commission, which fosters educational exchange between the United States and the United Kingdom to deepen knowledge, encourage civic responsibility, and cultivate future leaders with a global perspective.
This award recognises Elsa’s innovative work on political and social activism, particularly how activism intersects with gender, culture, and identity. Through creative methodologies and lived experience, her research explores how communities mobilise for change in the face of complex social challenges.
As a Visiting Scholar at Rutgers University–Newark, Elsa will investigate how communities in Newark engage in activism and public life during the 2020s. Her project focuses on the narratives and strategies of individuals involved in local activism, with a particular lens on how gendered and cultural experiences shape participation.
Reacting to her award, Elsa said:
“I'm excited to collaborate with scholars, activists and Spanish-speaking communities in the U.S. to understand how identity and resistance are lived and expressed. I hope this exchange will spark lasting partnerships that enrich both my research and my students’ learning at London Met.”
The Fulbright-Rutgers Newark Scholar Award supports UK-based academics for a semester in residence within Rutgers’ Honors Living-Learning Community, an award-winning initiative exploring questions of justice, identity and civic engagement. Scholars receive funding for research, travel, and on-campus accommodation.
Kelly Cooper, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Professions, said:
“This is a major achievement and a real reflection of Elsa’s growing international profile. The Fulbright-Rutgers Scholar Award is highly selective and strongly aligned with our School’s commitment to equity, activism and community engagement. Elsa’s work embodies these values, and we’re incredibly proud to see it recognised on a global platform.”
Elsa’s time in the U.S. will include teaching, community engagement, and a short “flash course,” offering her a platform to share UK perspectives and deepen international understanding. Alongside her academic work, she’s looking forward to connecting with the Rutgers and Newark community that would help build and sustain bridges between cultures and countries in a time and a geopolitical moment where these understandings are much needed.
Find out more about the award on the Fulbright Commission’s website.
