Contributed by graduate student Ivonne Cotorruelo.
The fellowship funds were used to support transportation expenses related to my travel to the University of Tulane for Moving Media in the Americas, Conference, December 4, 5 and 6. Specifically, the funds covered the cost of my round-trip airline ticket and taxi transportation to and from the airport. No additional expenses were incurred.
The primary purpose of my visit to Tulane University was to advance my ongoing research through direct engagement with academic resources and scholarly communities relevant to my field of study. During my time at Tulane, I presented my project – related to curatorial justice within the context of Latin American Film, which is crucial to my research and dissertation. Access to Tulane’s academic environment and to this conference refine key research questions and enhance the methodological framework of my work.
In addition, the visit provided an opportunity to establish academic connections with faculty and researchers whose work aligns closely with my own. One of the colleagues at the conference presented a work that is related to mine and we are thinking about editing a volume of academic essays in the future. The interactions at the Conference were valuable not only for immediate feedback on my research but also for fostering future collaboration and intellectual exchange.
Overall, the travel fellowship played a crucial role in supporting the progress of my research by enabling in-person access to networking, expertise, and academic networks that would not have been possible otherwise. I am grateful for this support and for the opportunity to further develop my project in such a stimulating academic setting.