Business Leadership Faculty Selected for Fulbright Specialist Roster

Dr. Gayathri Banavara, assistant professor in Business Leadership, was recently selected for inclusion on the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and World Learning’s Fulbright Specialist Roster for a tenure of three years (2025–2028). This recognition is a significant professional achievement and a testament to Dr. Banavara’s expertise and contributions to her field.

The Fulbright Specialist Program pairs highly qualified U.S. academics and professionals with institutions abroad to share their expertise, strengthen institutional connections, hone their skills, gain international experience, and learn about other cultures while building capacity at receiving institutions. Specialists, who represent a wide range of professional and academic disciplines, are competitively selected to join this roster based on their knowledge, skill sets and ability to make a significant contribution to projects overseas. Once selected for the roster, individuals are then eligible to be matched with approved projects designed by institutions from more than 150 countries. 

The program aims to provide a short-term, on-demand resource to institutions outside of the United States, giving them greater flexibility in how they engage with Fulbright. Specialists are strongly encouraged to continue working with these institutions in the years following their initial exchange, creating opportunities for ongoing cooperation and consultancies.

Dr. Banavara is the chair and an assistant professor in Business Leadership, Fashion and Hospitality at Community College of Philadelphia. She has been designing, developing and teaching a variety of courses in leadership, negotiation, management and marketing for 13 years. Dr. Banavara is a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) practitioner and has a deep interest in bringing experiential global education to the classroom.

Prior to her academic career, Dr. Banavara worked for more than18 years in the consumer goods industry in India, Canada and the United States. Her professional journey began in India, collaborating with artisans, weavers and global clients—including Harrods, Saks Fifth Avenue and Zara—developing culturally rich products that honored traditional craftsmanship while meeting international standards. Continuing the professional journey in Canada and the United States, her work helped businesses expand the manufacturing operations to a global supplier base. This role required navigating international logistics, cross-cultural negotiations and strategic planning across continents.

Dr. Banavara holds an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Studies from Northeastern University and Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from Mercy College. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and QM (Quality Matters) Certified Peer Reviewer for online courses.