A professor of American Indian studies at the University of Mary has been awarded the celebrated Fulbright scholarship, reports KFYR-TV.

A long time professor of U-Mary, a catholic university in Bismarck, Carole Barrett will soon be packing her bags and leaving to India where the Fulbright scholar will have to adjust in a new country, new university and new culture.

While her stay in India, she will be teaching courses on the sociological foundations of education, American literature and human rights.

"I always thought you could take a short trip of 10 days with a group of students where you're isolated with each other, but I would really like the experience of living within the country and really coming to know it in a different kind of way," said Barrett to KFYR.

Under the Full bright Program, founded by US Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946, competitively selected US citizens will be given an opportunity to study, conduct research, or exercise their talents abroad and citizens from other countries will be allowed to do the same in US.

Apparently, Barrett had already taken a study tour to India in 2010 and was intrigued by 'its assortment of cultural groups'. She has also taken a course through Oxford University to better understand the Hindu Culture and religion.

She is excited to make most of her stay in the country and hopes to interact with people from all walks of life.

"India does have a significant tribal population as well. So I hope to be able to visit in some of the tribal areas and come to understand their issues a little better," she said.

Barrett had applied for the award last August and had to wait until March to hear the good news. She said she has purchased two books on human rights and is using them to prepare herself as she will be delving into another culture, 'teaching from their perspective of India and the Indian constitution.'

Fulbright being one of the prestigious programs worldwide is open to citizens from more than 155 countries. 43 Fulbright scholars have won Nobel Prizes and 78 have won Pulitzers.