Kristen Urada once imagined herself in a white coat, not a classroom. Her early plans pointed toward medical school – but as tuition costs rose and her fascination with how people learn deepened, she realized her true calling wasn’t clinical, but cognitive. She became especially drawn to the way adults acquire new languages, not just in textbooks, but in real-world conversations.
That shift in focus led her to UH Mānoa, where she’s now in her seventh year of a PhD program in Second Language Studies. Her work centers on developing classroom-based activities that foster language growth among adult learners. But conducting that kind of research – built on collaboration, interviews and fieldwork –requires more than just passion. It requires time.
A Gift of Time and Trust
That’s where support from the Bilinski Educational Foundation made all the difference.
“The fellowship gave me breathing room to really focus on my research,” Urada says. “Without it, I probably would’ve needed more time to finish my dissertation. Balancing interviews, work and classes would have been much harder.”
Designed to support students during the final, most intensive phase of their academic work, the Bilinski Fellowship allowed Urada to shift her full attention to her research.
“It’s such a rare opportunity for graduate students in linguistics to receive this level of support” she says. “I’m incredibly thankful to the Bilinski Foundation for believing in this kind of work.”
Fourteen Years of Impact
For 14 years, the Bilinski Educational Foundation has supported UH Mānoa’s Linguistics and Second Language Studies programs, providing more than $5 million in funding. Their generosity has helped fund close to 100 dissertation fellowships and pre-dissertation research awards for diverse projects, ranging from studying dialectical differences in Sumatra to developing learning tools for adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
The Foundation’s sustained philanthropic commitment is exceptional in the field of linguistics. Because of this long-term support, UH Mānoa’s linguistics program has been able to attract top-tier graduate students and maintain its position as one of the top-ranked academic programs in the nation. In 2025, it earned its highest ranking yet – No. 11 in the U.S. and No. 40 in the world.
“The Bilinski funding was absolutely instrumental in everything I did at UH,” said Raina Heaton, who earned her doctorate in 2017 and is now an Associate Professor of Native American Studies at the University of Oklahoma, as well as Associate Curator of the Native American Languages Collection at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. “It gave me time to sit down and write my dissertation, which served me well, and it served the linguistic community better, too.”
Like Heaton, many Bilinski Fellows have gone on to distinguished careers in academia, publishing and research. Their success is part of a broader legacy that has elevated UH Mānoa’s global reputation in language sciences.
A Legacy That Lives On
“The Bilinski fellowships have been an incredible resource,” says Theres Grüter, professor in the Department of Second Language Studies. “Especially in light of the general scarcity of funding opportunities that allow PhD students to fully focus on their research, without the distraction of other duties such as teaching.
“We’re incredibly grateful for everything the Bilinski Foundation has done for our students and our department. That legacy will continue to shape our program for years to come.”
Looking Forward
Urada hopes to continue teaching and researching at the university level in Hawai‘i, with a focus on empowering adult learners to succeed in language acquisition and in life.
“Language is such a powerful connector,” she says. “Helping adults gain that skill set can change lives. I’m grateful I’ve had the support to focus on that work.”
As she prepares to pass on her knowledge, Urada carries more than expertise – she carries the legacy of a fellowship that gave her the time, space and trust to make her purpose heard.
Questions? / More Information
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