Abhay Ghiara, a professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at DeVry University’s @devryuniv Fremont campus and a former Fulbright Scholar, was recently selected to join the Fulbright Commission’s Peer Review Committee in New Delhi, one of only 49 commissions worldwide.

In this role, Professor Abhay Ghiara will work alongside fellow members to review Fulbright Grant applications, helping select recipients of the 8,000 grants awarded per year to scholars, teachers, students, artists, professionals and scientists to carry out their proposed projects, often involving immersing themselves in a cultural exchange which they will use to share and educate others.

“I am honored to be a part of a prestigious program with a global impact,” said Ghiara. “After a rewarding experience as a Fulbright Scholar, I look forward to assisting in the peer review process. I hope my work will serve as an example to my students and colleagues at DeVry University and inspire them to take an active role in their ongoing academic pursuits.”

Peer Reviewers are vetted by The Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) staff before they are sent to the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) or the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for approval.

Ghiara joins the ranks of a distinguished group that includes heads of State, CEOs, university presidents and Nobel Prize recipients. Through an intensive competition, Ghiara was selected to serve as a reviewer in the following categories for the 2016-2017 year:

  • Visual Arts in Doctoral Research (Study of India, Study of the U.S.)
  • Postdoctoral Research
  • Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship
Prof. Abhay Ghiara rises above the ranks as a newly appointed Fulbright Commission Peer Reviewer.
Prof. Abhay Ghiara rises above the ranks as a newly appointed Fulbright Commission Peer Reviewer.

“We are honored to call Professor Ghiara a DeVry University faculty member,” said Pamela Daly, president of the San Francisco Bay metro of DeVry University @devryuniv. “Professors like Ghiara showcase our faculty’s commitment to furthering the academic community and providing world-class education to our students around the country.”

Ghiara has been active with the Fulbright Commission since he was selected as a Fulbright Scholar in the 2012-2013 year. The Fulbright Scholar program is the largest scholar exchange program in the world, administering the exchange of scholars between the United States and more than 150 countries worldwide.

Ghiara has an extensive academic and research background, including holding positions at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois; the Goat Island Performance Group Summer Schools at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois; and Bristol University in Bristol, United Kingdom.

Ghiara holds a bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in yoga from the University of Mumbai, Maharashtra, and a master’s degree in economics from Northwestern University. As an economist and performance artist, Ghiara creates interdisciplinary performance lectures related to culture, economics and society for varying student audiences.