Arun Dhar, a globally recognized expert in infectious diseases in crustaceans and professor at the University of Arizona, School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences hadn’t considered applying for the Fulbright Specialist Program. Just prior to the application deadline for 2024, a respected colleague in India, Dr. K.V. Rajendran, Principal Scientist, Indian Council of Agricultural Research Central Institute of Fisheries Education (ICAR-CIFE), Mumbai insisted he apply, saying he could make important contributions to the career paths of the future Indian workforce.

Motivated by Dr. Rajendran’s high estimation of him, Dhar submitted his application. Despite the last-minute request, three references from different U.S. institutions provided letters of recommendation immediately and enthusiastically. “They believed in me,” he says. “That kind of support humbles me to this day.”

As director of the Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory in the School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Dhar leads a USDA-approved, ISO-accredited World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, Paris, France) Reference Laboratory for Crustacean Diseases. He is the WOAH-designated expert for crustacean health in North America, has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, and holds eight U.S. patents.

Dhar’s Fulbright award took him to the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) in Mumbai. He delivered series of interactive lectures, participated in two national conferences, and mentored graduate students in the Aquatic Environment & Health Management Division. That same year, the department was named CIFE’s top-performing unit — an achievement the head of the Aquatic Environment & Health Management Division partially credited to Arun’s visit.

“Fulbright is more than just a grant — it’s soft diplomacy,” he says. “It helps people connect across borders through shared values, science, and learning. Americans benefit just as much as the host countries.

While Dhar has traveled to over 20 countries and delivered more than 75 invited lectures since joining the University of Arizona in 2017, he sees the Fulbright program as uniquely valuable. “Fulbright is more than just a grant — it’s soft diplomacy,” he says. “It helps people connect across borders through shared values, science, and learning. Americans benefit just as much as the host countries. We learn from others, gain humility, and broaden our perspective.”

Dhar views Fulbright as a powerful tool for generational change. “It brings people with shared passions together. It helps young scientists see their work in a real-world context and teaches humility, resilience, and purpose.”

Reflecting on the possibility that the Fulbright Program could be eliminated, he is clear: “Fulbright shouldn’t be eliminated. It is a high-return, low-cost investment in global understanding and capacity building. Today’s technology allows us to mentor and engage across borders, so participants can collaborate with colleagues they meet for the rest of their careers.”

Dhar’s belief in service and quiet influence runs deep, shaped in part by a once-in-a-lifetime moment: receiving his Ph.D. from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute the year Mother Teresa gave the commencement speech. Her address remains a touchstone in his life. “Mother Teresa said, sometimes the most powerful changes begin with one quiet, purposeful step forward,” he recalls. “Fulbright has been one such step for the U.S.” In other words, Fulbright is a purposeful gesture of global collaboration whose benefits continually ripple outward.