She will spend 10 months lecturing at the University of Buea in Cameroon in 2006-2007, where she will teach three courses. Johnson-Ross’ teaching interests focus on comparative and African politics, and she feels lucky to be in Cameroon prior to a presidential election. She is hoping to meet residents and conduct research on the political process.

“So much of what I do is politics of identity, so this is an opportunity to get to know the people better and develop a deeper appreciation for their culture,” says Johnson-Ross.

When she returns to McDaniel, Johnson-Ross is considering teaching a special topics course on Cameroon, and plans to use the experience to teach her course “Contemporary African Politics.”

"The College is delighted that Debora Johnson Ross will join the ranks of its Fulbright grant recipients – doubly so since the award will return her to a country that she loves and knows so well,” says Provost Tom Falkner. “This experience will further deepen her expertise as an Africanist and provide new opportunities for our curriculum and our students."

Johnson-Ross has visited the African country several times, and most recently took six students in January as part of a three-week course “Culture and Politics of Cameroon.” She will again lead McDaniel students in the country in January of 2007.

“The beauty of the place just got to me. Once I went, I was totally hooked. I’ve met so many people there and feel so connected to the country,” Johnson-Ross says.

The West African country of Cameroon has been a colony of Germany, Britain and France. The official languages are English and French, but there are more than 250 ethnic language groups throughout the country. Cameroon has been called an “Africa in miniature” because of its varied terrain: it has a rain forest, active volcano, mountains, beaches, desert, and grasslands, as well as religious and cultural diversity.

Johnson-Ross, who joined the faculty as the 2001-2002 Jessie Ball duPont Visiting Scholar, has also taught at Wofford College in South Carolina and the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She has presented papers at many professional conferences including the African Studies Association and the International Political Science Association. She has received grants and awards including the Dorothy Danforth Compton Fellowship from the Institute for the Study of World Politics and a Multicultural Teaching Fellowship at the University of Nebraska. Johnson-Ross earned her A.B. at Wofford College, an M.S. from Florida Institute of Technology, an M.A. at the University of South Carolina and Ph.D. at the University of South Carolina.