Hazlett selected as Fulbright Specialist in Uzbekistan for Fall 2026
HFC humanities professor and founder of the Humanities 101 Foundation, Dr. Adam R. Hazlett, has been selected as a Fulbright Specialist in Uzbekistan during the Fall 2026 semester.
The Fulbright Specialist Program connects experts from the United States with institutions abroad for short-term projects in teaching, training, and public engagement. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Hazlett’s short-term cultural exchange appointment will last approximately one month in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in partnership with the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) and the Institute for Advanced International Studies. Hazlett will help the host university strengthen its American Studies program and will also deliver a series of lectures and interactive sessions connected to America250, a comemmoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S.
“I’m honored to share that this opportunity comes through the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, and I’m deeply grateful for the chance to serve in this role alongside the Embassy team,” said Hazlett. “I want to emphasize that this is a short-term learning and cultural exchange experience. The structure of the Fulbright Specialist Program allows me to continue my core duties at HFC, which I will coordinate to ensure continuity during the travel window.”
HFC Dean of the School of Liberal Arts Dr. Brad Romans said Hazlett's Fulbright Specialist appointment is well-deserved and well-earned.
"Dr. Hazlett's interdisciplinary work will represent the humanities and our learning community with distinction during his time in Uzbekistan," he said. "We look forward to learning about his experiences in cultural exchange – and those of his colleagues – after his return."
Including HFC students in the experience
Hazlett will work with UWED faculty to shape the program’s core courses and electives, write week-by-week syllabi, and create teaching materials instructors can use right away. These materials will include lesson plans, case studies, debate activities, and shared grading rubrics so courses are clear, consistent, and high quality. Hazlett will also run teaching workshops, co-teach pilot sessions, and mentor a train-the-trainer cohort so the program can keep growing after the assignment ends.
“While I am abroad, I will intentionally bring HFC students into the experience. I have already begun weaving the poetry of Timur and the broader Silk Road tradition into my Humanities 101 courses to enrich our curriculum, deepen global context, and strengthen student engagement with the humanities through real-time cultural learning,” he said.
Alongside his curriculum work, Hazlett will deliver guest lectures and student sessions for UWED students, introducing key themes in American Studies such as U.S. constitutionalism, civic culture, political thought, the arts, business and innovation, and cross-cultural exchange. In partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, he will give two public talks at American Spaces on the American University of Technology campus in Tashkent to broaden community access and celebrate America250.
“I am grateful to HFC for the professional foundation that made this opportunity possible,” said Hazlett. “When I return, I will be happy to share key takeaways with the campus community through a brief talk or informal conversation.”
Champion of the disability community
Hazlett earned his bachelor’s degree in political theory and writing from Ohio University and a master’s degree in English Language and Literature from Eastern Michigan University. He later earned a master’s degree in political theory and a doctoral degree in religion, both from Harrison Middleton University in Tempe, AZ. He has taught at HFC since 2003.
In 2020, Hazlett was diagnosed with autism. He has been a staunch advocate for the disability community and has developed expertise on neurodiversity. He has been active with Self-Advocates of Michigan and Detroit Disability Power. He has written columns about autism for The Detroit News and other media outlets.
Hazlett has also spoken at public and private institutions about autism in an effort to reduce its stigma. Last year, he trained the leadership of Lake Michigan Credit Union and the Detroit Regional Chamber. He has also trained faculty members at Kettering University and Washtenaw Community College.
In 2023, Hazlett founded a nonprofit organization called the Humanities 101 Foundation, which serves people with autism. Humanities 101 offers human-centered research and support to utilize the untapped potential and illuminate the beauty of the human experience through compassion and understanding. The organization strives to provide neurodivergent inclusion, acceptance education, and outreach to the community. It also provides support and resources to people with autism and their families.
“Receiving this Fulbright is a profound honor. I’m proud to represent Michigan, HFC, and autistic Americans,” said Hazlett. “In Uzbekistan, the work will translate the lived experience of American people into the classroom, guided by an autistic scholar’s perspective that can help spot barriers others miss and build learning spaces where more students can thrive.”