New Project Brings Global Understanding to the Adelphi Community

Please Note: Typo in the headline - NEW Project Brings Global Understanding to the Adelphi Community

Garden City, NY (10/30/2023) — Adelphi University is excited to announce the launch of the Bhise Global Understanding Project-an expansive, multidisciplinary campuswide initiative that will benefit students, faculty and the world at large-thanks to a major gift from Bharat Bhise '78, CEO and founder of Bravia Capital.

The overarching program encompasses faculty fellowships and research grants, student travel experiences, programming including speakers and visiting artists, and curriculum development, among other strategic efforts. Central to each of these will be the examination of global history and relations through the joint lens of the economic transfer of wealth between nations and the political and military power associated with such transfers.

"At the project's core will be the investigation of colonialism and economic inequality observed in the world-and particularly in Southeast Asia-today," Bhise noted. "Through greater education, this project will address the root causes of the breakdown of globalization, with the goal to reverse this recent trend. Understanding the different perspectives and roots of these issues is critical for our next generation of global leaders and ultimately could address the divisiveness we see in the world today."

The Bhise project is being led by two Adelphi professors, Rakesh Gupta, associate professor of decision sciences and marketing, and Chrisann Newransky, associate professor of social work, who were recently appointed as the first two Bhise Faculty Fellows. Among other initiatives slated for the 2023-2024 academic year, they will lead the Bhise Global Experience to India in January 2024 and teach a 360 seminar-style course on colonialism in the spring semester. This is the second year that Adelphi students will travel to India as part of the Bhise Global Experience.

The Bhise Global Understanding Project will also support faculty research grants aimed to expand the body of research and creative work that explores issues of globalization, colonialism and postcolonialism in the world, with a particular emphasis on the South Asia region.

The Bhise Project includes direct support and programming for students as well. Eight students will participate in a study tour of India in January 2024, which will include an immersive 10-day trip that explores the country's people, culture, environmental issues and history through visits to several cities and important sites, including colleges, businesses and nongovernmental organizations. The program builds on the success of the Bhise Global Learning Experience launched in January 2023.

Additionally, the Bhise Project will include programming that engages the entire community. A speaker series focused on global issues will bring renowned experts to campus to engage the Adelphi community in interesting and provocative conversations. The inaugural event will bring Caroline Elkins, a professor at Harvard University and the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of Imperial Reckoning: The Untold Story of Britain's Gulag in Kenya, to campus on November 14.

"This project is a powerful amplifier of all three goals in Adelphi's Momentum 2 strategic plan-and will advance intellectual rigor and research, build understanding around our connectedness in a diverse, global society, and strengthen our University's resources in support of academic distinction," said Adelphi Provost and Executive Vice President Christopher Storm, PhD, whose office will oversee the initiative. "We look forward to the evolution of the Bhise Global Understanding Project and to its becoming a distinguished academic offering that expands Adelphi's reputation and awareness in global higher education."

Bhise, who earned his MBA at Adelphi, credits the University with being the first step in his successful career as an investor and leader in the global transportation, leasing and logistics industries.

"We are honored to partner with Mr. Bhise to bring such a far-reaching and exciting project to life," said Thomas Kline, EdD, Adelphi vice president of University advancement and external relations. "This project will add even greater distinction to Adelphi, and I look forward to the impact it will have on our entire community."

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