Dr. Russell Porter, a professor of management at Texas A&M University–Central Texas, has been honored with the Fulbright Specialist Award, an esteemed honor administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Through this award, Dr. Porter will travel to the University of Lagos, Nigeria, where he will serve as a visiting professor.
At the University of Lagos, Dr. Porter will present the Proactive Ethics Program (PEP), a unique initiative he developed in his role as the Texas A&M University System Deputy Ethics Officer (DEO).
Dr. Porter described the program as an intensive, two-semester immersion in ethics.
“The PEP consists of a basic course in one semester that provides an overview of 24 ethical theories and 14 ethical decision-making processes, and an advanced course in a second semester that provides in-depth instruction to proactively prepare for multiple ethical and legal issues with over 300 combinations of the ethical theories and decision-making processes,” Porter said.
For this Fulbright exchange, Dr. Porter will adapt the two-semester program into a condensed format.
“Both the PEP basic and advanced courses will be provided in a condensed format over two weeks instead of the two semesters,” he said.
For Dr. Porter, this experience is an opportunity to teach and to learn.
“I hope to learn how the students at the University of Lagos are taught and learn in ways that are similar or not similar to our teachings and learning methods, as well as how they support research and interact with faculty in community projects for community service,” Porter said.
Porter joins a short list of A&M–Central Texas professors who have been awarded a Fulbright Specialist. Dr. Chris Thron, associate professor of mathematics at A&M-Central Texas has received the designation multiple times.
“Dr. Thron is our only other Fulbright at A&M-Central Texas, with four Fulbright experiences in Africa—an accomplishment that is unequaled in the Fulbright community,” Porter said.
Together, Dr. Thron and Dr. Porter aim to use their experiences to support students from Nigeria who may want to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies at A&M-Central Texas. Additionally, the two professors are exploring opportunities to establish similar study abroad programs in other African countries, further expanding global learning experiences for students.
“Through cultural exchanges as well as the coursework exchanges, A&M-Central Texas students will have a better understanding of a global perspective to help improve our world in the future,” he explains.
What excites Dr. Porter most about this opportunity is the potential to expand ethical education on a global scale.
“The PEP is currently at the system level and is one of only three known PEP-like programs in the U.S. If we can expand the PEP to the global level—starting with this Fulbright trip to Nigeria—we could potentially improve our ethical issues at the international level,” Porter said.
“One day we may even be able to provide sufficient ethical education at the international level to reduce the potential for war and actually find a meaningful peace for all humanity—an ideal goal, but one that could be achieved one day!”