Kader Gümüş, PhD, a 2025 graduate of Antioch University’s PhD in Leadership and Change program, has been selected for the Fulbright Specialist Program for 2026–2029. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational and cultural exchange program. Established in 1946 to promote global peace and mutual understanding, it supports accomplished students, scholars, teachers, and professionals as they study, teach, conduct research, and exchange ideas in more than 160 countries worldwide.
“This recognition reflects my commitment to understanding how systems shape human experiences of healing and post-traumatic growth, while advancing organization development and knowledge management as fields that support learning, adaptation, and transformation,” said Gümüş. “I am deeply humbled by the opportunity to bring my multicultural lens as a scholar-practitioner to this work, and to translate my research into meaningful cross-cultural collaboration and applied scholarship across global contexts.”
The Fulbright Specialist Program is a highly competitive international exchange initiative that connects U.S.-based experts with institutions around the world for short-term, project-based collaborations. Specialists work with host institutions in more than 150 countries to support curriculum development, capacity building, faculty training, and applied research initiatives.
Within the broader Fulbright Program, the Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright Specialist programs differ in structure and duration. The Fulbright Scholar Program typically supports long-term awards lasting up to one academic year, allowing for sustained teaching, research, and academic engagement at host institutions abroad. In contrast, the Fulbright Specialist Program is a three-year, roster-based appointment that enables selected experts to participate in multiple short-term, project-based collaborations with international institutions throughout their eligibility.
Gümüş’s selection reflects her expertise in systems-based research, interpersonal violence, organization development, and knowledge management, as well as her commitment to applied, cross-cultural scholarly collaboration.
Read an Antioch Spotlight on Gümüş in Common Thread here.
