Marketing lecturer Dr Suzanne Kelly named Fulbright-Teagasc Scholar for 2026-27

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Ulster University Lecturer Dr Suzanne Kelly has been named a Fulbright-Teagasc Scholar for 2026 - 2027.

The Fulbright Programme, managed in Ireland by the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange, annually awards grants to Irish citizens and eligible EU and UK citizens resident in the Republic of Ireland to study, research, teach or lecture in the United States, while supporting Americans to do the same in Ireland.

Since its establishment in 1957, more than 2,500 students, scholars, professionals and teachers have participated in the prestigious programme, strengthening educational, research and cultural links between both countries.

Dr Suzanne Kelly was one of 19 Fulbright Irish Awardees for 2026-2027 announced at a ceremony hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Embassy of the United States of America in Iveagh House, Dublin, on 18 June.

A Lecturer in Marketing at Ulster University, Suzanne's research focuses on agrifood systems, rural innovation, social capital and knowledge exchange within agricultural communities. Living in Donegal, her interest in rural and agrifood research is deeply rooted in her upbringing around a family business and farming, combined with her academic work with Teagasc, where she completed her PhD examining social capital and innovation within agri-food systems.

Her more recent research has explored local food systems, healthy eating and food-based behaviour change initiatives, reflecting her commitment to understanding how communities engage with food, innovation and sustainability.

As a Fulbright-Teagasc Scholar, Suzanne will undertake a three-month research and teaching residency at Purdue University in Indiana, working with the Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business. Her project will investigate how trust-based networks and advisory relationships influence agribusiness innovation and technology adoption across Irish and U.S. agricultural systems.

The research will provide an opportunity to compare international approaches to innovation in agriculture and explore how stronger knowledge-sharing networks can support sustainable development within rural communities.

Speaking about the significance of the awards, the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange highlighted the role Fulbright scholars play in strengthening academic collaboration, cultural understanding and the exchange of ideas between Ireland and the United States. Fulbright awardees act as ambassadors for their institutions and countries, sharing expertise abroad and bringing valuable insights back to their communities on their return.

Dr Suzanne Kelly commented:

“I am honoured to receive a Fulbright-Teagasc Scholarship and to have the opportunity to represent Ulster University in the United States. Having grown up around farming and a family business, and having built my academic career around understanding rural communities and agrifood systems, this opportunity is especially meaningful to me.
"The award will allow me to collaborate with leading researchers at Purdue University and explore how trusted networks and advisory relationships support innovation across agricultural systems.
“I am excited to exchange ideas, learn from different perspectives, strengthen international partnerships, and bring new insights back to my research, teaching and engagement with rural and agrifood communities in Ireland and the United States.”

Suzanne joins a distinguished global network of Fulbright alumni and will represent both Ulster University and the wider Irish research community during her residency in the United States.