Slenka Botello
Slenka is a Colombian Fulbright Scholar and first-year PhD student in the Department of Art and Architectural History at UVA Charlottesville. She holds an M.A. in Art Studies from Ibero University in Mexico City and a BA in History from the National University of Colombia.
Her research interests focus on feminist art history in Latin America, and she is particularly interested in examining how the new narratives of feminist art are transforming art history and curatorial practices in Colombia. Her previous research experience has focused on the category of “monstrosity” to analyze European travelers’ representations of indigenous South Americans from a decolonial perspective.
She has also analyzed the place of demonic and sinful bodies in 18th-century Jesuit Mexican and Colombian art. With a background in art-based research and teaching art history to artists, as well as a deep love for DIY zine projects, Slenka is excited to contribute to the vibrant academic community in Charlottesville and Virginia. |
Lotte Notelaers
I am a fourth-year PhD student at KU Leuven in Belgium, currently undertaking a 10-month research visit at the University of Virginia within the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and the Link Lab advised by Professor Donna Chen. This visit is supported by the Fulbright Belgium Foreign Student Program for doctoral research.
My research focuses on the impact of operational strategies and policies of shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) on their operations in various city contexts, with a particular emphasis on comparing the urban structures of the US and Europe. Apart from the research, I’m very excited about the cultural exchange this visit offers, as it’s a unique opportunity to connect with diverse people and broaden my perspectives. |
Paula Rivera
I am from Colombia and was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to pursue a PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond. I am currently in my third year, and I have had the opportunity to engage in community-based participatory research with American Indian communities in Virginia and the Latino population. My research interests focus primarily on cancer, which aligns with much of my academic work.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Universidad de Caldas and a Master’s in Public Health from Universidad Autónoma de Manizales. In Colombia, I served as a nursing faculty member at three universities. I held administrative roles and led research projects on health technologies, palliative care, community health engagement, and patient safety. |
Jefferson Rodriguez Najera
Jeff is an international graduate student from San Jose, Costa Rica. He is doing his Master’s in Public Policy at the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy of The University of Virginia (UVA). He is also a Fulbright Scholar of the Foreign Fulbright Program with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica.
In recent years, Jeff has worked for the Costa Rican Judicial Branch leading projects in open data, open justice, and transparency. Also, he was a faculty member of the School of Public Administration of The University of Costa Rica, where he had a research, lecturing, and advisor role. He co-founded Idea Publica (now known as Innovaap), the first Innovation Lab in Public Policy at The University of Costa Rica. His interests are access to justice policies, environmental policies, and open government. |
