Augustana welcomes Fulbright Hildeman Scholar Elina Nilsson

Fulbright Scholar Dr. Elina Nilsson will teach a course for Augustana College students in the Scandinavian studies program for the spring semester.

Dr. Nilsson is a lecturer at the Centre for Gender Research at Uppsala University in Sweden, Augustana’s sister school. She was awarded the Fulbright Hildeman Fellowship in Scandinavian Studies, a prestigious honor aimed at promoting the study of Scandinavian language and area studies in the United States.

According to Uppsala University, the fellowship seeks to encourage students and faculty in Scandinavian studies, to strengthen contacts between Swedish and American academics, and to increase interest in Sweden and Swedish area studies among American students and scholars in a variety of fields.

Augustana Provost Dr. Dianna Shandy said the college is honored to be selected by the Swedish Fulbright Commission to host the 2024-25 Fulbright Hildeman Fellow.

“We are particularly excited for the ways in which Dr. Nilsson’s scholarly research will expand Augustana’s students’ understanding of contemporary Scandinavia,” Dr. Shandy said. “Our partnership with Uppsala University enriches the Augustana experience, and we’re grateful for this opportunity to deepen the historic ties between our two institutions.”

Dr. Nilsson teaches undergraduate and advanced-level courses at Uppsala in the areas of 
reproduction and nation, postcolonial feminism, masculinity, and methods. Her research areas include commercial surrogacy and issues on assisted reproduction, embodiment, family and kinship, power, and global intimacies.

At Augustana, Dr. Nilsson will teach a course titled “Reproduction and Family in the Scandinavian Welfare States.” The course is available for students in the Scandinavian studies and public health programs, as well as other students.

“I have a great opportunity to design the course and can therefore include my own research interests, which feels exciting,” she said. “It will be interesting to teach at a liberal arts college, getting inspiration from a new environment, and meeting different types of students.”

Dr. Nilsson is also looking forward to developing her research in the area of reproductive health care and conducting a comparison between the United States  and Sweden on the attitude towards non-medical egg freezing and fertility preservation.

The Hildeman Fellowship was established in 1986 by the Swedish Fulbright Commission in commemoration of Mr. Nils-Gustav Hildeman, prominent Swedish diplomat and former Fulbright Board member. Annually a different U.S. university is selected to host the Fulbright Fellow. More information is available at Fulbright Hildeman Fellowship.