Another impressive honor has been bestowed upon on a member of the City University of New York community.

Ruth Elinor Botwinik, an adjunct professor in the Basic Skills Department of Queensborough Community College, was recently announced as the recipient of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB) award for the 2011-2012 academic year.

As result of her prestigious award, Professor Botwinik has traveled to Dushanbe, Tajikistan for the 2012 spring semester, where she is currently undertaking the role an instructor of English at the Tajikistan State Institution of Foreign Languages.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government, according to their website.

Created in 1946 by Senator J. William Fulbright, it has become one of the most prominent foreign educational program around.

Under the Fulbright Program, competitively selected U.S. citizens may become eligible for scholarships to study, conduct research, or exercise their talents abroad with citizens of other countries.

The program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrating leadership potential in their fields.

The program operates in 155 countries worldwide.

Despite her excitement, Professor Botwinik  remains focused on the task at hand.

"This grant provides me with a wonderful opportunity to connect with people in another country who are eager to learn about our language and culture," said Botwinik, according to an article from CUNY Newswire.

Botwinik was also awarded a Fulbright in 2005 to teach English at the University of World Languages in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Her achievements are a testament to the increasing reputation of Queensborough Community College.

Initially established in 1960, Queensborough Community College is located on a large spacious 37-acre campus in Bayside, New York.

The College offers a varied selection of courses ranging from liberal arts to an extensive science curriculum.

Furthermore, they boast many career and pre-professional courses.

Comprising one of the most diverse populations of any college in the U.S., nearly 15,000 students pursue Associate degrees or Certificate programs and another 10,000 students of all ages attend continuing education programs.

Despite her achievementsm, Botwinik continues to be level headed.

Building off of CUNY's high level of diversity, Botwinik not only sees this opportunity as a large stepping stone for her career, but also a way to connect with some of her students.

"Just as important, I will share my experience with my students at Queensborough, many of whom are from Central Asia," said Botwinik, according to the CUNY Newswire.

In total there are approximately 800 Fulbright Scholars from all academic disciplines are chosen each year from around the United States.

However only a lucky twelve are selected nationally within the category of Botwinik's expertise, TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language).

Dr. Diane B. Call, interim president of Queensborough was quite proud of her faculty member.

"An award of this caliber is a reflection of the scholarship and commitment of Professor Botwinik and underscores the fact that Queensborough provides a quality education under the guidance of our outstanding faculty," said Call.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, a division of the Institute of International Education.