Woods College Associate Dean named Fulbright Specialist
Aleksandar (Sasha) Tomic, associate dean for strategy, innovation, and technology at the Woods College of Advancing Studies, has been named to the prestigious Fulbright Specialist Program, a U.S. Department of State initiative that connects American scholars with international institutions to share expertise and advance collaborative research.
The Fulbright Specialist award recognizes individuals for their professional achievement, demonstrated leadership in a field, and potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad.
Tomic will travel to Montenegro in June to begin a five-week project at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Montenegro, the oldest institution of higher education in the Balkan country, where he will help the school to strengthen its academic standards in line with U.S.-style excellence in business education.
"It is a great honor to be named a Fulbright Specialist," said Tomic, who directs the Woods College master's degree programs in applied economics and applied analytics, and holds courtesy appointments as professor of the practice in both the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences and Carroll School of Management.
"Being able to contribute back to my country of origin and build further bridges between it and the United States and Boston College is especially meaningful for me, and I am very grateful for the support that I have received. I look at this grant as another steppingstone to a deeper, more fruitful collaboration between our institutions, and also between our two countries."
"There are few people I've met in life that can compare to Sasha Tomic's energy, ingenuity, vision, and care," said Woods College Dean David Goodman. "All that he does bends the realities around him and simply creates a better world. We are delighted by this Fulbright appointment and know it will yield meaningful effects for all involved."
As Fulbright Specialist, Tomic will collaborate with University of Montenegro's Faculty of Economics leadership and designated working groups to provide guidance on strengthening academic governance structures and committee processes, support the development of a structured learning framework, advise on curriculum mapping and program alignment, share practical approaches to faculty engagement and institutional planning, provide recommendations regarding quality standards in online and blended learning, and advise on innovative teaching approaches that prepare students for contemporary business environments.
“ There are few people I've met in life that can compare to Sasha Tomic's energy, ingenuity, vision, and care. All that he does bends the realities around him and simply creates a better world. We are delighted by this Fulbright appointment and know it will yield meaningful effects for all involved. ”
He also will deliver a public lecture and organize a student discussion on the development of business and economics education in the United States, highlighting in particular how American business schools have increasingly integrated applied learning, collaboration with industry, and teaching methods that place less emphasis on purely theoretical instruction and greater focus on problem-solving, case-based learning, and experiential education.
Tomic's work as Fulbright Specialist will build upon his involvement in an active exchange partnership between the University of Montenegro and Boston College that has been flourishing for several years, beginning in 2024 with a 10-day visit to BC hosted by the Woods College for a delegation of 13 early-career teaching associates. Tomic, who organized the visit's schedule of events, said it was an opportunity for young colleagues from Montenegro to experience Boston College’s approach to teaching and student engagement.
Several additional visits followed, Tomic said, including by senior representatives from the Montenegrin university and by executives in a professional education program developed and delivered in partnership with the Faculty of Economics.
"I am especially excited about having my Fulbright project in Montenegro at the Faculty of Economics, which has been our steadfast partner over the last three years," he said.
Established in 2001, the Fulbright Specialist Program is part of the larger Fulbright Program, which is the flagship international academic exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government.