Exploring her odyssey from a unique perspective
In recent developments, Arizona State University proudly welcomes a new addition to its Global Teaching Fellowship program. This notable initiative is made possible through the generous support of President Michael Crow's Special Initiative Fund, in conjunction with the Melikian Center's Title VI award, bestowed through the Title VI Resource Center and Foreign Language and Area Studies funding.
Eszter Eva Matyas, a dedicated Ph.D. candidate within the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy at Central European University in Vienna, Austria, has become the latest member of our esteemed academic community. Interestingly, her journey comes full circle as she was not only born and raised in the city of Budapest, Hungary but also currently calls it home.
Eszter attended CEU during the period in which Prime Minister Victor Orban forced the university to move its degrees to Vienna.“The bill introduced new regulations for foreign-operating universities, several of which affected CEU. This legislation was a move by the Hungarian government to restrict academic freedom and target CEU, which is known for its liberal and critical approach to education and research.” The circumstances brought on substantial global condemnation and widespread protests, with numerous individuals arguing that it constituted an assault on both academic independence and democratic principles. Following the Hungarian government's decision not to finalize an agreement permitting CEU to sustain its US-accredited programs within Hungary, the institution had to relocate to Vienna in 2018.
Arizona State University is the only US University that participates in the Global Teaching Fellow program, which allows advanced graduate students from CEU’s internationally-ranked programs to gain teaching experience working with undergraduates, as well as many other professional opportunities. Eszter's appointment as the fifth CEU Teaching Fellow since the inception of the collaboration in 2018 is a testament to the program's success. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first Global Teaching Fellow to reside at ASU for an entire academic year.
“Ever since I heard about the teaching fellowship opportunity at ASU I wanted to apply, but first I had to complete a teaching certificate program at CEU and wait until I’m in year four of my PhD program. Compared to the average European higher education, the students here are much more active in class, which is particularly important for the subjects I teach. The colleagues at the Melikian Center give me all the help I need to settle in. I've been here for just a month, yet I sense that I've made significant progress as a professor and researcher, more so than I ever did back home in the past years. I can't wait to see what the rest of the semester brings.”
As our conversation progressed, she began to explain what she is working on during her year-long experience at ASU. Eszter teaches SGS 330, a Globalization and Environment course where she draws from her ongoing research and integrates case material from Arizona. Furthermore, Eszter has exciting plans to offer a course on Democratic Erosion in the upcoming Spring semester. “I plan to continue the initiative launched in 2022 to make Democratic Erosion a COIL course (Collaborative, Online, Interactive Learning), through coordination with the University of Helsinki's Aleksanteri Institute.”
Eszter's unwavering enthusiasm and deep-rooted passion for Environmental Sciences were unmistakably evident. Her dedication to environmental protection has been a lifelong commitment, beginning in her childhood and resonating strongly through her academic pursuits. “It became clear to me at the beginning of my studies in Political Science that I wanted to deal more seriously with environmental politics and policies.” She also spent the rest of her time on her internship in the Hungarian Parliament, while also working on the same topic at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Eszter also deepened her knowledge at several NGOs throughout her educational experience.
She further fuels her passions by being an Environmental Activist for Greenpeace in Hungary, starting all the way from when she was 18 years old, as she worked as a lead campaigner for the fossil gas campaign in Central and Eastern Europe. “I always considered it important to be able to actively participate in the green movement in addition to my research work. Greenpeace’s work taught me how the “Think Globally, Act Locally” theory works in real life. The burden on those who confront the fossil industry every day, often at the expense of their private lives, is enormous.” Once Eszter’s teaching fellowship ends, she wants to return to Hungary to continue working on her activism.
Written by: Victor Johnson ~ 2023
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