May 9, 2013

Creative Arts Therapies PhD student Elizabeth “Liesbet” Manders ‘14 was named a Fulbright Scholar for 2013-14. She was one of the record number of Drexel students who were offered grants this year through the Fulbright Program.

Manders plans to join a dance/movement therapy study in Heidelberg, Germany where she will look at the effects of coordinated partner movement on participants’ social interactions. “I am in Germany to join a research study that is in my field, meaning both in dance/movement therapy (DMT) and in Autism. Since there is so little research in DMT in general, it is great to have a larger study happening with the population I am interested in,” Manders said. She credits her advisor Sharon Goodill, PhD, for making her aware of the research opportunity. Sabine Koch, PhD, who earned her Master’s degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from Drexel, is leading the study. Koch just started a Master’s program in DMT in Heidelberg and Manders will have the chance to co-teach in that program while she is abroad. “Some of [Koch’s] students are very interested in research, so she happily shows me off as a PhD student in the Creative Arts Therapies and recommends they consider applying to the PhD program at Drexel in a few years,” Manders said.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Manders has been working as a mental health professional for several years. Her ultimate career goal is to work as a researcher with a clinical DMT practice on the side. “I want to research DMT for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders,” Manders concluded.