Katerina Canyon Accepted Fulbright Specialist Role

The Los Angeles-based educator will support digital storytelling curriculum development in Indonesia.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Language Learning

Bold vector editorial illustration featuring a wooden wayang puppet silhouette and drafting compass on a desk, representing digital media education. — Katerina Canyon, executive director of the Peace Economy Project, will travel to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to develop digital storytelling curricula for Sekolah Tinggi Multi-Media as a Fulbright Specialist. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Katerina Canyon, executive director of the Peace Economy Project, has been selected for a Fulbright Specialist position. She will travel to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to work with Sekolah Tinggi Multi-Media.

Why it matters

This project aims to enhance digital media education by helping professors develop curricula for student-led streaming and storytelling initiatives. Canyon will also mentor faculty on creating media that effectively highlights local cultural identity.

Canyon holds a master's degree in law and diplomacy from Tufts University and joined the Peace Economy Project in 2010. She previously received the Montesi Award in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

The players

Katerina Canyon

She serves as the executive director of the Peace Economy Project and is a former poet laureate of Sunland-Tujunga.

Sekolah Tinggi Multi-Media

This educational institution in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, hosts the Fulbright Specialist program.

Peace Economy Project

This organization promotes economic stability and has been led by Canyon since 2023.

The details

Canyon will collaborate with Sekolah Tinggi Multi-Media to refine curriculum regarding digital storytelling, streaming media, and over-the-top (OTT) production. She will provide mentorship to staff to ensure that educational media projects authentically represent regional culture.

Canyon served as the poet laureate of Sunland-Tujunga from 2000 to 2003.
Canyon joined the Peace Economy Project in 2010.
Canyon received the Montesi Award in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Canyon assumed leadership of the Peace Economy Project on Oct. 7, 2023.
The selection for this Fulbright Specialist project was reported in October 2026.

Culture Shift

This project highlights the expanding global emphasis on digital storytelling as a critical component of modern pedagogy. It mirrors the broader shift where international cultural exchange programs increasingly prioritize technical media literacy alongside traditional academic collaboration.

While this project takes place in Indonesia, the integration of new digital media strategies often influences the development of similar storytelling projects back in Los Angeles. Residents and students may eventually see these collaborative techniques applied in local media education initiatives.

The takeaway

This selection underscores the value of cross-cultural collaboration in refining digital media curricula. Educators can benefit from observing how these international partnerships integrate local cultural identity into technical instruction.