When he’s not in the classroom, Dr. O. Volkan Ozbek loves to see the world. At this point, the Turkish-born assistant professor of management at Texas A&M University–San Antonio has been to 30 countries.
Not only is travel a passion of his, but Ozbek sees his explorations as a crucial tool for providing content about international business to his students, many of whom may have never been outside of Texas.
In a best-of-both-worlds scenario, Ozbek recently received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award for 2026-2027 from the U.S. Department of State. He is the first University faculty member to receive the prestigious Fulbright Scholar recognition while at the University, marking a historic milestone for both his career and A&M-San Antonio.
“Dr. Ozbek’s selection as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar is an extraordinary achievement that reflects both his scholarly excellence and the University’s growing academic reputation,” said Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “His work abroad will not only elevate our international profile but also enrich the learning experience for our students by bringing global perspectives into our classrooms and strengthening opportunities for future international collaboration.”
Ozbek will spend the spring 2027 semester — January-June — at Management Center Innsbruck (MCI), a leading business-focused institution in Austria. He will serve as a guest lecturer and instructor, providing the U.S. perspective on business and international management, while fostering connections and strengthening A&M-San Antonio’s international reputation.
He describes the award as an extreme honor. “The Fulbright is a golden bracelet among academics,” Ozbek said.
Impressively, this is the second distinction Ozbek has received from the Fulbright Program, the United States government’s flagship program of international educational and cultural exchange. In September 2025, he spent nearly two weeks at the University of Presov in the Slovak Republic after receiving the Fulbright Specialist Program award.
“Your visit represented an exceptional academic and professional enrichment for our
institution,” Dr. Eva Benková, the University of Presov’s vice-dean for international relations, wrote in a letter of appreciation to Ozbek. “The lectures and workshops for our doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and discussions you delivered offered valuable insights into strategic management, international business, and intercultural collaboration.”
Ozbek said his time in the Slovak Republic was beneficial for him personally and the University. “It was an incredibly rewarding and positive experience,” he said.
Ozbek has been part of the U.S. higher education community since 2005 and joined A&M–San Antonio in 2023. Prior to earning his doctorate in business administration with a concentration in strategic management at the University of Texas at Arlington, he completed three master’s degrees in various areas of business from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, and Naval Science and Engineering Institute in Istanbul. Ozbek also served in the Turkish Navy as a cadet and as an officer.
Dr. Daniel A. Glaser-Segura, the former director of the University’s Office of International Education and professor emeritus at A&M-San Antonio, was awarded a Fulbright Traditional Scholarship in 2004-2005 and two Fulbright Senior Specialist Scholarships in 2006 and 2011 to teach in Romania. Ozbek credits Glaser-Segura for inspiring him to apply for the honors.
The time teaching abroad convinced Ozbek to move forward with the more rigorous Fulbright U.S. Scholar program. “The application process is highly detailed and competitive,” he said. “It required four essays as well as a detailed project statement and other extensive documentation.”
His background in the classroom and as a published author in elite management journals such as the Academy of Management Review, American Business Review, and the Journal of Business Strategy made Ozbek a match with MCI. Ozbek adds that he had a strong desire to work in Europe.
Ozbek said that during his time abroad, he aims to build connections with university leadership, professors, and students, which could help establish future partnerships with A&M–San Antonio.
Moreover, Ozbek will see firsthand how international business is shifting in today’s evolving economy. That knowledge will be embedded into curriculum upon his return in fall 2027.
“It is really important for me to teach my students about life overseas,” Ozbek said.
Like his published articles, the Fulbright adds recognition to A&M–San Antonio as it builds its reputation to attract today’s top management students. To that point, the University has encouraged Ozbek to pursue this very scholarly opportunity.
“This is going to bring distinction to the University,” Ozbek said.