Article by: Keziah Nicole Fernandez
Ms. Zedny C. Immatong, an instructor at the University of the Cordilleras, Baguio City, Philippines, is now plunging into a remarkable journey as a Fulbright Foreign Student Program grantee. Before this achievement, Ms. Immatong earned her master’s in criminal justice, specializing in Criminology, from the University of the Cordilleras.
Subsequently, Ms. Immatong obtained the esteemed Fulbright Foreign Student Program award for the academic year 2024-2025, where she will transition from her role in the Philippines to pursue advanced studies in the United States (US). She will attend the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and will enroll under its Ph.D. program in Criminology and Justice Studies—spanning a period of 4-5 years.
In terms of her academic pursuits, her research interests center on corrections, victimization, and studies related to human rights, and one key goal of her scholarship is to thoroughly understand the parallels and differences between correctional systems of the US and the Philippines. Through this endeavor, she seeks to obtain knowledge, skills, and practices abroad, and she intends to foster extensive and thoughtful programs aimed at achieving a more effective reformation and administration of prisons and jails in the Philippines. Moreover, she also strives to gain a wider perspective on corrections by grasping how cultures and disciplines in the US interlink with the Philippines, which, in turn, she hopes would lead to greater progress in the American-Filipino relationship.
As a result of these aspirations, as a criminologist, Ms. Immatong aims to use the Fulbright Program as an ally to be an active advocate in her profession, making notable contributions in the field and in the Philippines. Ultimately, she hopes to become a better asset to the community and a more flexible educator and researcher.
