Dr. Shawn Daly Completes Fulbright Specialist Assignment in Zimbabwe

Dr. Shawn Daly, professor of marketing and international business at Niagara University, spent five weeks this summer on assignment in Zimbabwe as a Fulbright Specialist, working alongside faculty at Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology to accelerate the institution's Education 5.0 mandate-a Zimbabwean national initiative that blends teaching, research, community service, innovation, and industrialization.

"MUAST's focus on entrepreneurial leadership in a developing the agricultural economy aligns perfectly with NU's emphasis on innovation and service," said Dr. Daly. "This focus-particularly on artificial intelligence-has equipped students, faculty, and business folks to launch and improve ventures that improve livelihoods across rural Zimbabwe."

During his residency, Dr. Daly taught undergraduate and graduate courses in areas such as information technology, supply chain management, and business intelligence. He delivered seminars on artificial intelligence applications in research, advanced business analytics, and digital tools for agribusiness, while also providing one-on-one mentorship to early-career faculty on teaching practices, assessment design, and research publication.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Daly helped staff MUAST's booth at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, where he engaged with government officials, universities, and agribusiness organizations. He led training sessions for ag extension agents and farmers that introduced AI-powered decision tools, financial literacy practices, and business planning strategies. He also participated in the MUAST Innovation Fair as a panelist on "Innovation Linking Academia and Industry," and delivered a public lecture on the future of AI in business to a cross-section of students, faculty, and administrators.

This is the third Fulbright award for Dr. Daly, who has three decades of experience in agribusiness consulting, AI-assisted learning, and international faculty development. In addition to his Fulbright work in Mongolia and Kazakhstan, Dr. Daly has been involved in numerous international development projects, providing expertise in business, marketing, and engineering in Rwanda, Guyana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia. He has also lectured extensively and appeared on national news programs discussing the use of AI, medical tourism, and B2B marketing.

The Fulbright Program, established in 1946, is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. It is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.