Political Science Professor Adrien M. Ratsimbaharison, Ph. D., has been selected as a member of the South Carolina Fulbright Association Board of Directors on Thursday, April 15, during the Board of Directors meeting that was held on the campus of Benedict College. Upon receiving the appointment, Ratsimbaharison says, “It’s a coronation of my work as a scholar, as a researcher. But I’m not just a researcher, I’m also a faculty member that connects with students and other stakeholders. I think it is a coronation of 24 years of teaching, research and service on the college level.”
While his appointment to the Board of Directors is new, Ratsimbaharison is not a stranger to the Fulbright Program. In 1992 and in 2024, Ratsimbaharison, a native of the island of Madagascar, was awarded a Fulbright grant to conduct research. “I received the Fulbright grant twice. First as a student to come over here and complete my graduate studies in political science at the University of South Carolina, and then as a faculty member at Benedict College to conduct research in Madagascar,” says Ratsimbaharison. Following a Fulbright Association Board of Directors meeting in February 2025 at Benedict, Ratsimbaharison introduced himself and shared his history with the Fulbright scholarship to members of the Board. He says, “A few weeks after the meeting, I received an email saying that the Board would consider nominating me as a new member if you would accept, and I said, ‘I accept enthusiastically.’“
Interim Dean of the School of Communication, Art and Social Science Leon Geter, Ph. D., praises Ratsimbaharison for his exceptional leadership
and scholarship. Geter says, “Adrien Ratsimbaharison’s appointment to the South Carolina Fulbright Association Board of Directors reflects his exceptional commitment to advancing global education and fostering meaningful international partnerships. His expertise and dedication are invaluable assets to this esteemed organization. Dr. Ratsimbaharison has been an invaluable asset to Benedict College, where his leadership, scholarly contributions, and mentorship have profoundly shaped our academic community. His dedication to promoting intellectual rigor and fostering a spirit of innovation has uplifted both his colleagues and students, leaving an indelible impact on our institution.”
After completion of this doctorate from the University of South Carolina in 1999, Ratsimbaharison was a faculty member and department chair at Allen University for 11 years. In 2010, Ratsimbaharison began teaching
political science at Benedict and continuing his scholarship. “As a Fulbright, you have to do research and that’s what I did since I got my job at Allen, I continued to do research and so far, I have published 2 books, 2 book chapters, and 11 peerreviewed journal articles. ”As an official member of the Fulbright Association Board of Directors, Ratsimbaharison plans to host meetings to encourage faculty and students to find different Fulbright grants to apply for and develop research proposals that can be funded.
