Dr. Shawn Daly Selected for Fulbright Specialist Assignment in Zimbabwe

Dr. Shawn P. Daly, professor of marketing and international business at Niagara University, has been selected for a prestigious Fulbright Specialist assignment at Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in Zimbabwe. For five weeks in August and September, Dr. Daly will work alongside MUAST's faculty of agribusiness and entrepreneurship to accelerate the institution's Education 5.0 mandate-a Zimbabwean national initiative that blends teaching, research, community service, innovation, and industrialization.

"Shawn's appointment underscores Niagara University's commitment to global engagement and mission-driven business education," said Dr. Mark Frascatore, dean of the Holzschuh College of Business Administration. "His ability to translate classroom theory into community impact exemplifies the Vincentian ideals that guide our institution."

During his residency, Dr. Daly will guide students, faculty, and administration through the application of artificial intelligence, plus other modern tools and knowledge in a wide range of areas such as business intelligence, global sourcing and procurement, sustainable agriculture, and digital marketing. Planned activities include a series of hands-on innovation sprints, field-based SWOT analyses with local farmer cooperatives, and professional development boot camps on outcome-based pedagogy, data-driven decision-making, and ethical AI deployment. Beyond the clear opportunities for learning and exchange, the collaboration is expected to produce market-ready prototypes, live KPI dashboards for regional agribusinesses, and a MUAST-branded library of specialized local language chatbots for farmers.

"MUAST's focus on entrepreneurial leadership in a developing agricultural economy aligns perfectly with NU's emphasis on innovation and service," said Dr. Daly. "Together, we will equip students to launch ventures that improve livelihoods across rural Zimbabwe."

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, 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