Making History, Breaking Barriers: Adelphi’s First Fulbright Scholar in Residence

During the Spring 2026 semester, Adelphi University was proud to welcome its first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, Bibek Banerjee, PhD, a renowned management scholar and entrepreneurial academic administrator from India.

The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence is one of the most highly competitive and unique programs in higher education. Designed to promote cross-cultural understanding and global collaboration, this program allows U.S. colleges and universities to host a foreign scholar for a semester or full academic year to internationalize their campus and enrich the university community.

The residency of Dr. Banerjee, a distinguished management scholar and experienced academic leader, was sponsored by and affiliated with the prestigious Levermore Global Scholars program-a program for students interested in global study and leadership.

A Historic First for Adelphi

The opportunity to become a Fulbright Fellow was brought to Dr. Banerjee by Hanna Kim, PhD, professor and chair of the Adelphi University Department of Anthropology and co-director of the Museum Studies Program. While honored, he initially hesitated due to his commitments at Ashoka University, where he was overseeing the commissioning of a new management school. "I wasn't sure if I could get away for a whole semester," he explained.

With strong support from his colleagues, Dr. Banerjee ultimately accepted the opportunity, adding that his motivation was "to try and understand the shifting sands in higher education that the U.S. is living through." He felt that these insights would inform ideas and strategies to help build world-class global institutions in India.

As the first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence ever hosted by Adelphi, Dr. Banerjee's appointment carries special significance. "It is a matter of great honor for me," he said.

Advancing Adelphi's Global Educational Initiatives

Dr. Banerjee was sponsored by and affiliated with the Levermore Global Scholars program and the College of Arts and Sciences. During his time here, he helped advance Adelphi's global educational initiatives by collaborating with scholars and engaging with the campus and local community.

Throughout the semester, Dr. Banerjee delivered three different lectures to Adelphi students and faculty.

• Careers at the Edge of Change: Global Stories and Innovation in Emerging Markets provided insight into real-world business challenges, innovations and strategies.
• From Classrooms to Ecosystems: Time for Higher Education to Evolve in the Global Innovation Economy dove into how university education, particularly American higher education, looks to adapt to the rapidly evolving needs of global realities.
• Innovation Ecosystems Unlock Civilizational Potential: The Case of India explored how campuses, startups and cultural narratives transformed entrepreneurship for young Indians and why building impactful organizations is a powerful expression of ambition, purpose sand leadership in contemporary India.

By residing in an on-campus apartment and judging high school students at Adelphi's annual Scholarship and Creative Works Conference, Dr. Banerjee gain firsthand insight into the American student experience.

Sponsored by Students With a Global Mindset: The Levermore Global Scholars

Adelphi students call the Levermore Global Scholars "an unconventional honors program." And that's really what it is. Levermore Global Scholars is an innovative academic community dedicated to preparing students to become leaders in a changing world and enhancing their global mindsets. It recognizes the importance of social responsibility and justice, civic participation, community engagement, global awareness and global activism.

Current students in this program are studying a core global studies curriculum alongside 37 different majors, including international studies, business, nursing, political science and biology. In addition to classroom studies, students participate in a variety of cocurricular and experiential learning activities, including cultural excursions to New York City, service projects and activities at the United Nations.

Most Levermore Scholars also participate in study abroad, as well as credit-bearing internships.

A Distinguished Academic Leader From India

Born in Kolkata, in the state of West Bengal, India, Dr. Banerjee has led a distinguished academic career. He earned both a PhD in economics and marketing science and a master's degree in economics from Purdue University, as well as a BS in economics and mathematics and statistics from St. Xavier's College in Kolkata. From his 18-year tenure at the prestigious Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad to his transformative roles as dean at Ahmedabad and Shiv Nadar universities-where he pioneered industry-academia collaborations-Dr. Banerjee has consistently elevated educational standards. He is currently the head of the Havells School of Management and Leadership at Ashoka University.

India and Adelphi University: Deep Ties and Collaboration

Although his semester at Adelphi is over, Dr. Banerjee sees significant potential for further collaboration between Adelphi and institutions in India. He highlighted India's growing importance in global higher education, fueled by a burgeoning student population eager to learn. "India has been the largest source of international students for Adelphi," he observed, indicating that this creates a strong foundation for strategic partnerships. He also noted that Adelphi's prime location in New York, combined with its thoughtfully designed and cost-effective programs, means that Indian student interest will only continue to expand.