Brandon Schweitzer (left) with family in Hawai'i.
HPU double-alumnus Brandon Schweitzer, Ph.D., has been awarded a Fulbright Specialist grant to Colombia. Schweitzer graduated from HPU in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA in 2009. He earned his doctorate of philosophy in management with a specialization in accounting from Walden University in 2017. As a Fulbright Specialist, he joins an esteemed group of Fulbright alumni, including Nobel Laureates and global leaders.
“I believe that my education at Hawai‘i Pacific University provided me with a unique international business lens, because of the significant diversity of the student population and faculty,” Schweitzer said. “This experience allowed me to focus my expertise within international communities, which contributed to my selection as a Fulbright Specialist. I look forward to engaging with the local community in Colombia and exemplifying the qualities of service, leadership, and excellence that have been the hallmarks of the Fulbright Program since its inception.”
From September 23 to October 13, 2024, Schweitzer will work in Medellín with the research group “Mundo Organizacional” at Uniremington’s School of Business. His expertise will help bridge the gap between Environmental Social Governance (ESG) research and financial performance in the Pacific Alliance countries (Colombia, Chile, Mexico, and Peru). He will lead workshops, lectures, and training sessions to support faculty and students in understanding sustainability's role in business.
The Mundo Organizacional research group is addressing the challenge of understanding the impact of ESG practices on financial performance in Pacific Alliance countries. While studies in developed countries show a positive correlation between strong ESG practices and financial success, this relationship has not been widely explored in emerging markets. Schweitzer’s expertise will help to explore this connection and provide the group with much-needed insights and research guidance.
His primary goal is to strengthen the sustainability research line at Uniremington by conducting workshops and training sessions on ESG criteria and their link to financial performance. He will work closely with faculty researchers to develop models that examine these relationships in companies from emerging economies. These sessions will equip faculty with the tools to better assess the financial impact of sustainable business practices.
“I would like to thank the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board for this incredible opportunity. I am excited for the professional and personal growth this experience will bring and to share the knowledge and experiences I gain with others,” he said.
