Published: May 4, 2011

Joseph Martinez, a senior at Fordham College Lincoln Center (FCLC), was awarded the Fulbright-García Robles Grant, also referred to as the Binational Business Grant.  This grant will provide Martinez with the opportunity to acquire professional work experience, interning with a company or Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Mexico.

In addition, Martinevz will have the chance to earn graduate credits in internal trade, business, finance or comparative law.

Martinez said he was first inspired to apply for the Fulbright-García Robles Grant after spending a semester abroad in Grenada, Spain.

“I’ve known for a while that I wanted to go abroad to obtain both a professional and academic experience. My desire for that only grew after I studied abroad in Spain,” Martinez said.

Unlike his experience in Spain, the Fulbright-García Roble Grant affords Martinez the opportunity to spend 10 months working and studying in Mexico. This is something he said he is eager to embrace because of his heritage.

“I really wanted to go somewhere where I could speak the language and fully immerse myself in the culture,” Martinez said. “I ended up choosing Mexico because of my family ties. I’ve never had the opportunity to explore that side of my culture.”

Martinez is currently awaiting his placement with a company or NGO where he will work five days a week. In the past, the Binational Business Grant has placed students with companies such as Banamex, Grupo BAL, Procter & Gamble, Prudential Real Estate Investors, Rothschild Bank and Scotiabank.

Wherever Martinez is placed, he hopes to leave an indelible impact on the company and people who work there.

“Fulbright is all about mutual understanding and cultural exchange,” Martinez said. “I’m there to help out with everyday operations, but also to give them a better understanding of the American culture in the best possible way I can.”

The Binational Business Grant is specifically structured to include business, academic and cultural experiences to allow students that aspire to become future business and political leaders the opportunity to build relations between the United States and Mexico.

The program encourages students to participate in cultural activities and events, outside of their internship, to enhance their understanding for the Mexican way of life.

Martinez said he is looking forward to the exchange of culture and ideas because he feels that there is often a disconnect between Mexican Americans and the Mexican culture at large.

“I’m Mexican-American and the perspective of Mexican Americans is not always positive in Mexico,” Martinez said. “I hope to be an example of a Mexican American who wants to learn as much as I can about the mother country and culture.”