An OU Honors College assistant professor was recently selected as one of more than 100 international Marshall Memorial fellows and is the only one from Oklahoma.

Marcia Chatelain, who teaches Africa-American studies, was one of the winners chosen for the five-city, 24-day European tour based on her emerging leadership potential and scholarly achievements.

Chatelain has demonstrated that leadership means something in academics, said Richard Hamerla, associate dean of the Honors College.

Chatelain attributes her selection to her commitment to public service, along with her continued involvement with the Truman Scholarship community, the alumni of Brown University and her leadership role as a board member with the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma.

“Oklahoma is not the best state for women and girls in terms of incarceration, unplanned pregnancies and educational and career attainment, but organizations like Girl Scouts are combating gender inequality every day,” she said.

The Marshall Memorial Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for emerging leaders from the United States and Europe to explore “institutions, politics and culture on the other side of the Atlantic,” according to its website.

Chatelain said she is excited to make contacts in Europe to help support her research.

“I hope to bring back some strong insights for students looking to study abroad in Europe and hopefully make some connections with people also concerned about the status of women and girls around the world,” she said.

Fellows will meet with local policymakers and community members, as well as have an opportunity to explore their own areas of interest and expertise.

The Marshall Memorial Fellowship was founded in 1982 to introduce European leaders to the US; a companion program was launched in 1999 to expose American leaders to European affairs.

Chatelain, a Chicago native, graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism in 2001 and received a Ph.D. in American civilization from Brown University in 2008. She is also a 2000 Truman Scholar.

She said she is excited to find out the exact itinerary of the tour, anxious to meet the diverse group of fellows and regards her fellowship as an opportunity to broaden her teaching horizons.