July 3, 2025

by Lauren Ferguson

Dr. Benjamin Eric Daffron has been reading Moroccan literature written in French ever since a former colleague introduced him to it more than 25 years ago.

The Ramapo College of New Jersey literature professor finally decided to visit Morocco himself  in January of 2023. That trip would spur four more visits over just two years.

“I just became fascinated with the Moroccan way of life, just everything about it,” said Daffron, who in September will begin a 10-month assignment conducting research and teaching in the northwest African country.

The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board recently awarded Daffron with a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Award for the 2025-2026 academic year. Daffron will be teaching literature in the English Studies Program at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, a major city west of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. He will also be researching Moroccan literature, film and photography being produced by people early in their careers for his project, A Study of Morocco’s Emergent Creative Artist.

“They are not necessarily well known or have not yet made a big name for themselves, but are doing some really interesting work that I’d like to find and to research and to learn more about, which means, of course, being in Morocco because that’s where they are and where they’re producing this work,” Daffron said.

Dr. Benjamin Eric Daffron has visited Morocco five times since 2023.

According to the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, Fulbright scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions. Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs, and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad.

Daffron, who also served as vice provost for curriculum and assessment at Ramapo for about seven years, said that when he returns to Ramapo’s Mahwah campus, he hopes to teach a course related to his research and what he has learned. “I am going to bring it back into the classroom for sure,” he said. He also hopes to speak about his Fulbright experience to help faculty and students who want to apply for the program.

Daffron said the application process required proposals, essays, letters of recommendation and a letter of invitation from the university in Morocco. “It’s something I have been working towards for a long time,” he said.

Along the way, Daffron said he found support from his Ramapo colleagues, such as Dr. Susan Hangen, dean of the School of Humanities and Global Studies, Dr. Michael Middleton, provost and vice president for teaching, learning, and growth, and Dr. Rebecca Root, professor of political science and international studies and also director of the Office of Prestigious Fellowships and Scholarships.

Root’s office offers individual counseling as the centerpiece of fellowship and scholarship assistance. She is thrilled for Daffron and for Ramapo.

“I have seen him at work in the classroom, where he elevates the discussion of literature to a level more typical of grad school seminars, and I’ve always been amazed by how much cutting-edge scholarship he produces. I know his exploration of the Moroccan literary and creative scene will produce exciting new scholarship and enrich his teaching at Ramapo for years to come,” Root said.

Dr. Benjamin Eric Daffron has taught literature at Ramapo College since 2018.

For Daffron who has long dreamed of living abroad for an extended period of time, the Fulbright Award is a dream come true.

“I’m going to be teaching and researching, and it’s a great opportunity to explore another country, another culture for more than just a few days as a tourist. I’m actually going to be living there for almost a year. So I’m really excited,” he said.

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, 44 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and non-profit sectors.