Brooke Hartman, a senior biochemistry major at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Spain for the 2018-19 academic year. She will teach at a school in the Galicia region.

Hartman, who graduated from Millard North High School, also has minors in Spanish, chemistry and psychology.

With her background in occupational therapy and her work with students with disabilities, she hopes to not only teach English in Spain, but work with children with cognitive and physical challenges. Some organizations that she is interested in volunteering for are Autismo Galicia, la Federacion Sindrome de Down de Galicia and la Federacion Galega de Dano Cerebral. She wants to learn more about the global special-needs population and discover what challenges people with disabilities in other countries face.

Concerning her time at Nebraska, she said: “I would like to thank the faculty of the biochemistry and Spanish departments for educating me, as well as providing support and advice throughout my four years. Additionally, I would like to thank the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for inspiring me to become an occupational therapist and do all that I can to support individuals with developmental disabilities.”

Hartman wants to improve her own Spanish speaking skills and to add an international teaching experience in working with people with developmental disabilities. She plans to use adaptive teaching styles while in Spain to ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn English.

Hartman has gained language teaching experience through volunteering with the Omaha Literacy Center.

Upon her return to the United States, she will attend Columbia University in New York City to pursue her master’s degree in occupational therapy. She hopes to be able to help as many patients and their families as she can, and eventually influence public health policies regarding disability and rehabilitation.