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Rare three-time Fulbright recipient aims to expand global opportunities for UW-Green Bay students and strengthen impact at home
GREEN BAY, Wis.—Rasoul Rezvanian, professor of finance and the Austin E. Cofrin Endowed Chair in Business at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in business administration and economics to Azerbaijan for the 2026–27 academic year from the U.S. Department of State. With this latest recognition, Rezvanian becomes a rare three-time Fulbright U.S. Scholar—an achievement attained by very few scholars worldwide.
A Fulbright Scholar is a recipient of one of the United States’ most prestigious international academic and cultural exchange programs, recognizing accomplished faculty and professionals for their excellence in teaching, research and cross-cultural collaboration around the world.
For his 2026–27 Fulbright, Rezvanian will spend nine months in Baku, Azerbaijan, teaching and conducting research in partnership with a university in the country. Rezvanian plans to teach courses such as Corporate Finance and Money, Banking and Financial Markets, integrating real-world applications and comparative analysis into his instruction. His research will focus on the stability and performance of Azerbaijan’s banking sector. Ultimately, his insights will be shared with policymakers, financial institutions and investors.
The project reflects both his decades-long academic expertise and deep personal connection to the region. Born in northern Iran near the Azerbaijan border and fluent in Azeri, Rezvanian brings cultural insight and firsthand regional understanding that strengthen his ability to build relationships and foster collaboration.
“When you go outside the country, you realize how much of an impact you can have on people’s lives,” said Rezvanian. “In many places and especially in developing countries, students are eager to learn and looking for guidance, and you can help shape their futures—not only academically, but as people. That’s what makes the Fulbright experience so meaningful.”
In addition to advancing scholarship, Rezvanian sees the Fulbright experience as an opportunity to benefit UW-Green Bay students and the broader community upon his return. He plans to use his experience to promote greater international engagement and inspire students and faculty to pursue global opportunities.
Mathew Dornbush, dean of the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business, praised Rezvanian’s impact both in and beyond the classroom. “At UW-Green Bay, we are committed to helping our students rise, and Professor Rezvanian brings that commitment to life—both here and across the globe,” Dornbush said. “When students grow, they take that impact back to their communities, helping others rise with them.”
At UW-Green Bay, Rezvanian has served since 2020 in leadership and faculty roles within the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business, including as associate dean and director of graduate programs. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has held faculty and leadership positions at institutions including Ithaca College and Northeastern Illinois University, with extensive international teaching and research experience across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Rezvanian’s first Fulbright appointment to Azerbaijan came in the late 1990s, just a few years after the country emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union, during a time when its higher education system—and understanding of modern finance—was still developing. His second Fulbright award funded his work in China in the mid-2000s, where he taught finance and conducted research on banking systems and financial markets.
About UW-Green Bay
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a school of resilient problem solvers who dare to reach higher with the power of education that ignites growth and answers the biggest challenges. Serving 11,519 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students as well as 101,000 continuing education learners annually, UW-Green Bay offers 200 academic degrees, programs, and certificates. Featuring the region’s only Division-1 athletics, The Weidner performing arts center, campus locations in Green Bay, Manitowoc and Sheboygan, and a theatre in Marinette, the University’s access mission welcomes all who want to learn, from every corner of the world. Championing bold thinking since opening its doors in 1965, it is a university on the rise – Wisconsin’s fastest growing UW. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
About the Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 as a bold investment in global peace and American prosperity through educational and cultural exchange. The Fulbright Program is marking its 80th anniversary in 2026, which coincides with America’s 250th anniversary celebration. This dual milestone provides an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the Fulbright Program’s role in America’s legacy of leadership, innovation, international collaboration, and American excellence.
Fulbright provides opportunities for exceptional Americans and participants from 160 countries and locations to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. For eight decades, Fulbrighters have been leaders at the forefront of discovery and innovation, conducting cutting edge research, advancing critical industries, and preparing future generations with new skills and perspectives. Fulbrighters have included 46 heads of state or government, 63 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 83 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders in all sectors and industries across the United States and around the world.
Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program.
In the United States, the Institute of International Education implements the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit fulbrightprogram.org.
