Assistant Provost Honored With Fulbright India Award

Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., assistant provost and dean of Continuing Education and Professional Studies, was chosen as one of ten senior United States university administrators to participate in an immersive two-week program under the Fulbright-Nehru Education Administrators Seminar in India in March 2025.

This prestigious seminar, granted by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, recognizes Naatus’s commitment as a distinguished higher education administrator to advancing international education and fostering global partnerships.

The IEA Fulbright-Nehru Seminar, designed and administered by the U.S.-India Educational Foundation, provided U.S. higher education leaders with immersive exposure to India’s higher education system. Organizers explained, “This unique opportunity brought together higher education leaders from across the United States to explore India’s academic landscape, fostering meaningful dialogue on potential collaborations.” The cohort visited approximately 14 universities and colleges in Mumbai, Coimbatore and Delhi. The administrators engaged with Indian academic leaders, administrators and education experts, delving into the latest trends and developments in Indian higher education.

Katia Passerini, Ph.D., Seton Hall provost and senior executive vice president, said, “Mary Kate exemplifies Seton Hall’s commitment to fostering a global mindset and creating opportunities for cross-border collaboration. Her participation in the Fulbright-Nehru Seminar strengthens our university ties with Indian institutions and furthers our mission of preparing students to be leaders in a globally interconnected world.”

Naatus highlighted that the program connects senior U.S. higher education administrators with Indian universities, private-sector leaders and government agencies to explore India’s higher education landscape and provide insight into academic structures, policy frameworks and cultural dynamics to foster global collaboration.

Through site visits and discussions in Mumbai, Coimbatore and Delhi, participants explored India’s evolving higher education landscape and identified avenues for international collaboration. Key institutional visits included the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and O.P. Jindal Global University. The U.S.-India Educational Foundation’s meticulous planning ensured that participants gained deep insights into India’s government policies, educational priorities and opportunities for partnership, ranging from virtual exchanges and student mobility to joint research and degree programs.

“The insights I gained from this prestigious Fulbright Seminar will directly inform Seton Hall University’s ongoing efforts to expand academic collaborations with Indian institutions, attract top international students and foster a globally connected campus. These initiatives align with the university’s broader strategy to develop joint academic programs, enhance faculty research partnerships and strengthen cross-cultural learning opportunities,” Naatus noted. “Seton Hall University looks forward to building on the relationships forged through this Fulbright experience and deepening its commitment to internationalization, with India as a key partner in its global engagement strategy.”

Naatus is an accomplished professional with a diverse background in education, business and global service. Her faculty role at Seton Hall University is professor, Department of Marketing, Stillman School of Business. Her current research interests include socially responsible marketing, business education, social media and small business marketing. Prior to her arrival at the university in January 2023, she served as professor and dean of the Guarini School of Business at Saint Peter’s University.

To learn more about the Fulbright Program, click here.

To learn more about the U.S.-India Educational Foundation, click here.

Categories: Business, Education, Nation and World