LEWISTON – Kristine Goulding, a Bates College senior from West Suffield, Conn., has received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award for the 2007-08 academic year.

Totaling approximately $25,000, the grant will support Goulding’s studies in the North African country of Tunisia. In the cities of Tunis and Nefta, she will explore the differences in political activity between women in conservative Muslim groups and those in the mystic Sufi branch of Islam.

Goulding previously studied in Rabat, Morocco, and in India. In addition to the Fulbright, she recently received a Language Initiative Scholarship from the U.S. State Department, an award that will enable her to improve her Arabic language skills though an intensive program in Tunis starting in July. She will work in Tunisia until June 2008.

“I’m hoping to work with the State Department eventually, doing policy analysis, anything like that,” said Goulding, who will graduate from Bates this month with a double major in French and political science and a minor in religion. “Just doing something for the American government and bringing in a different voice. The Fulbright will give me a different perspective.”

the U.S. government’s overseas educational, cultural and informational programs.