Dr. Marcus Valenzuela, a faculty member at the Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. College of Business, has been named a 2025-2026 Fulbright U.S. Scholar. Valenzuela joined Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) in 2020 and teaches general management courses, focusing on organizational behavior and human resource management.
He is one of two PBA faculty members to receive the Fulbright award for the upcoming academic year, marking the second consecutive year that a professor from Rinker College of Business has earned this recognition. Last year, Professor of Finance Dr. Ariel Viale was also selected as a Fulbright recipient.
“I was inspired by Fulbright’s mission to foster mutual international understanding through academic and cultural exchange, which aligns closely with my personal and professional experience, values, and goals,” Valenzuela said.
Valenzuela’s research will take place at Corvinus University of Budapest in Hungary. There he will collaborate with faculty in organizational behavior and human resource development on a project titled “Acculturation in a Hungarian Context: Societal and Organizational Implications.” The project examines how migrant workers adapt to new cultural and workplace environments, addressing topics relevant to both organizational behavior and human resources.
His research connects to his broader interest in global labor dynamics and aims to contribute to discussions about migrant experiences within business contexts. By working with Corvinus University’s Empirical Social Research Center and department of international relations, Valenzuela intends to advance his scholarship while strengthening PBA’s academic community.
Each year more than 800 U.S. scholars participate in the Fulbright Program. The program seeks to encourage mutual understanding between nations through education and collaboration.
“We are so blessed to have Dr. Marcus Valenzuela and Dr. Thomas Parham named as Fulbright scholars,” said PBA President Dr. Debra A. Schwinn. “It is a reflection of the quality of their experience and expertise but also demonstrates our commitment to further professional development that enhances what we are able to offer to our students.”
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award is funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Since its establishment in 1946, over 400,000 individuals from more than 160 countries have participated in the program; alumni include Nobel Prize winners, Pulitzer Prize recipients, and heads of state.
