Seton Hall to Welcome Guest Fulbright Scholar Łukasz Kamieński, Ph.D.

With the nature of global conflict increasingly including digital and psychological battlefields, Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy and International Relations is bringing a world class expert on security studies to campus. From March 11 - 14, 2026, the university will host Łukasz Kamieński, Ph.D., a distinguished Fulbright Visiting Scholar from Poland’s Jagiellonian University in Kraków, for a series of intensive lectures, research workshops, and a high-impact crisis simulation.

Kamieński, currently serving a Fulbright term at the University of Pennsylvania, arrives with the support of the Fulbright Outreach Lecturing Fund. His visit is designed to bridge the gap between complex academic theory and the urgent practicalities of modern international security. Undergraduate and graduate students in Diplomacy and related programs, School of Diplomacy faculty, and student organizations with interests in Poland, Slavic studies and European affairs are encouraged to participate in Kamieński’s visit.

Navigating the Battle Over Narratives
The busy schedule will begin with an intensive look into the future of conflict. On Wednesday, March 11, Kamieński will join the community at a discussion by United States Army Colonel Scott McLellan, who will speak on “Military Strategy for Diplomats” (11 a.m.-1 p.m., University Center Chancellor’s Suite).

Kamieński will take the stage himself for a research presentation on Thursday morning (March 12, 9-11:30 a.m., McQuaid Hall Diplomacy Room). His lecture will focus on “Cognitive Warfare, Technology, and the Battle for Narrative.” Here the Fulbright scholar will share his research findings from a chillingly modern frontier: how emerging technologies — including Artificial Intelligence, neurotechnologies, the Internet of Things (IoT) and even online gaming — are being weaponized by malicious actors to influence democratic societies.

Brendan Balestrieri, Ph.D., professor of Practice of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, highlighted the importance of this initiative: "We are all very excited to include Dr. Kamienski into our security studies programing at Seton Hall. I’m certain our students will leave his talks with a better understanding of conflict and the evolving character of warfare in the twenty-first century."

From Theory to Practice: The DiploLab and Crisis Simulations
The intensive visit is not limited to traditional lectures. On Friday, Kamieński will lead a closed-door session with Seton Hall’s DiploLab. In this applied workshop, students will go beyond the headlines to encounter real-world indicators and warnings of influence operations. The residency culminates on Saturday with a full-day “Alliance Stress Test” Crisis Simulation. Focusing on Eastern Europe, the Baltic region and NATO decision-making, the exercise will place students in the hot seat of international diplomacy. Kamieński will serve as the lead subject-matter expert, providing realistic scenarios to test students’ ability to manage escalation and strategic communication under pressure.

Cultivating the Fulbright Spirit
Beyond the technicalities of security, Kamieński’s visit serves a broader cultural and professional purpose. On Friday morning (March 13, 10:00am-noon, McQuaid Hall Diplomacy Room), he will lead a Fulbright Program Roundtable, sharing his personal journey and advising students and faculty on how to develop competitive proposals for their own international fellowships.

The visit will also celebrate the local community and Polish heritage. On Thursday evening, Kamieński and members of the Seton Hall Polish and Slavic Clubs will travel to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City. There they will tour the exhibition Art of Freedom: The Life & Work of Arthur Szyk, exploring how the Polish-American artist used his craft to fight the political crises of the 1930s — a historical parallel to the modern challenges that Kamieński studies today.

“Dr. Kamieński’s upcoming visit reflects Seton Hall’s growing commitment to internationalization, even as it deepens our institutional relationship with the Fulbright program,” said James J. Kimble, Ph.D., professor of Communication, Media and the Arts and director of Prestigious Faculty Fellowships at Seton Hall. “The outcome will inevitably be richer opportunities for the entire campus community”, he concluded.

By integrating  Kamieński’s specialized knowledge into the curriculum, Seton Hall continues to reinforce its commitment to experiential learning and mission-driven international education, preparing the next generation of diplomats to navigate an increasingly complex world.

Categories: Arts and Culture, Nation and World