First Visiting Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence

New York Tech is hosting its first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence on the Long Island campus this academic year. Fidelis Ndambuki Kilonzo, Ph.D., a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence from Kenya, will conduct research, assist in curriculum development, guest lecture, and conduct workshop seminars, among other responsibilities in the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences during the 2024-2025 academic year. Kilonzo—a senior lecturer and executive dean of the School of Engineering and Architecture at Kenyatta University, a public research university whose main campus is in Nairobi, Kenya—was selected for the award by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. 

“We are deeply honored to welcome Fidelis Ndambuki Kilonzo as the first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence at New York Institute of Technology,” says Dean Babak D. Beheshti, Ph.D. “His expertise in environmental changes on water resources will not only enhance our academic community but also contribute significantly to our internationalization efforts and broaden the global perspectives of our students and faculty.”

Kilonzo brings to New York Tech nearly 30 years of experience in engineering, education, and leadership. Among his many accomplishments are having been a member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya’s Policy, Research, and Advocacy committee, serving on the board of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre for Eastern Africa, and as a management board member of the Kenya Education Network. He is also on the steering committee of the Stanford University Byers Center’s East Africa Biodesign program. Kilonzo’s research focus and interests include climate change, appropriate environmental technology transfer, low-cost tech innovations, sustainable food systems, water and waste management, and hydrological and groundwater modeling.

“As the first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence from the School of Engineering and Architecture at Kenyatta University, I am thrilled to join New York Tech. Our shared commitment to global academic exchange, coupled with the strong parallels between our institutions—especially in fostering a doer-maker-innovator culture and a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit—makes this collaboration particularly exciting. I look forward to engaging with students and faculty, exchanging knowledge, and contributing to our collective efforts to advance sustainable practices and global perspectives,” Kilonzo notes. 

The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program brings visiting scholars from abroad to colleges and universities in the United States, helping the institutions to diversify the educational experiences of their students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders. Kilonzo is one of 43 Fulbright Scholars-in-Residence and among 1,000 outstanding foreign faculty and professionals who will teach and pursue research in the United States for the 2024-2025 academic year through the worldwide Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program. Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government.

“I am excited that this academic year we both host a Fulbright Scholar, which is a great honor and recognition for the university and especially for the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences, and simultaneously have Associate Professor of Digital Art and Design Rozina Vavetsi, M.Sc., selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar to teach and work in South Africa,” says Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Balentine, D.O.

“Mark of Distinction”

New York Tech was accepted as a Fulbright Host Institution following a rigorous application process. Fulbright grants are highly competitive; being chosen as a host institution signifies that the university is recognized for its quality in research, teaching, and international engagement. Hosting a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence allows faculty and students to interact with scholars from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds, fostering cross-cultural understanding and enriching the academic environment. Further, it can facilitate networking opportunities and professional development for faculty, staff, and students. Interacting with scholars from different countries and disciplines can lead to valuable connections, collaborations, and opportunities for international research partnerships. The School of Management hosted a Visiting Fulbright Scholar in fall semester 2018.

“Overall, hosting a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence is a mark of distinction for a university, highlighting its commitment to internationalization, academic excellence, and global citizenship,” Beheshti concludes.