Natalya Rodriguez, a doctoral candidate in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies, participated in the Fall 2023 Proseminar on Research Project Design and Scholarships, Fellowships, and Grants. As a result, Natalya received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to support her dissertation research, “Threatened Threads: Weaving Values in Heritage Textile Production in Okinawa, Japan.” She will conduct her research as an affiliate of the University of the Ryukyus under the guidance of Professor Nakama Nobue during the 2024-2025 academic year. Natalya's research focuses on the ongoing efforts to sustain traditional textile-making practices amid economic and environmental challenges.