South Mountain Community College library faculty member and founder of the Maricopa Native Seed Library, Danielle Carlock Cowan, was recently selected for a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in Croatia for the 2026-2027 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
During her Fulbright award, Cowan will be based at the University of Split Library where she will collaborate with Croatian librarians, botanists, environmental organizations and community members to adapt and evaluate the Maricopa Native Seed Library Model in a Mediterranean context.
Developed at South Mountain Community College in collaboration with colleagues across the Maricopa Community College District and beyond, the model addresses the underrepresentation of native species in seed libraries by demonstrating how libraries, as trusted civic institutions, can convene regional partnerships that conserve biodiversity through native seed sharing, environmental education, urban habitat restoration, community engagement and shared stewardship.
“In a world where environmental challenges can feel overwhelming, I believe creating habitats with native plants is one of the most meaningful ways people can make a difference within their own sphere of influence,” said Cowan. “Libraries have an extraordinary opportunity to help people make that connection by giving them the knowledge, resources and local support to create habitat where they live.”
Fulbright U.S. Scholars are accomplished faculty, researchers, administrators and established professionals who teach or conduct research in partnership with institutions around the world. Through these affiliations, they expand their professional networks and often seed future research, innovation and institutional partnerships. When they return home to their campuses, labs and classrooms, Fulbright Scholars share their experiences and insights, becoming champions of international collaboration. Many go on to host visiting scholars, and inspire colleagues and students to pursue transformative opportunities abroad.
Through her work with the project, Cowan will not only share the Maricopa Native Seed Library Model with Croatian colleagues, but also draw upon Croatian knowledge and experience to strengthen the model for future adaptations.
“My Fulbright is an opportunity to explore how that same sense of stewardship can grow in Croatia while learning from Croatian colleagues and their unique ecological knowledge and conservation traditions,” said Cowan.
Cowan’s Fulbright project will mark the first international adaptation of this Maricopa Community Colleges innovation.