Aston University credit rating expert wins prestigious Fulbright scholarship

• Aston Law School’s Dr Daniel Cash is the first member of the University to be awarded a Fulbright scholarship since Donald Biggs in 1974.
• The Fulbright Program is one of the largest and most prestigious educational exchange programs ever developed
• It has awarded over 8000 fellowships to students and scholars since its creation in 1946 by Senator J. William Fulbright

An Aston University credit rating expert has been awarded a prestigious 12-month scholarship as part of the Fulbright Program in the United States of America. Dr Daniel Cash is the first member of Aston Law School to win one and is the first University staff member to enrol since Donald Biggs in 1974.

He will start at New York University’s Stern Business School in April. Whilst there, he will be developing a sector-leading edited collection, bringing together the leading figures in credit rating research.

He will also be creating articles on developments within the credit rating sector, and particularly the effect of credit rating agencies on the sovereign debt of the world’s poorest countries.

Dr Cash said:

“This is the accumulation of more than a decade’s worth of dreaming. I first visited New York in 2007 to try to gain some inspiration after a tough time in my life and ever since then have focused solely on moving over there.

“I contacted a professor at NYU during my Masters in 2011 and have kept in touch with him since, even having Visiting Fellowships under him since being at Aston University. This Scholarship is the prize for all of that.”

The Fulbright Program is one of the largest and most prestigious educational exchange programs ever developed. It has awarded over 8000 fellowships to students and scholars. Amongst its alumni counts are 39 Heads of State, 60 Nobel Prize Laureates, 75 MacArthur Foundation Fellows and 88 Pulitzer Prize Recipients.

Professor George Feiger, executive dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences, who was himself a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University, said:

“The Fulbright Program is highly selective and exclusive and being awarded a scholarship through it is a phenomenal accomplishment for Daniel. It is a flagship initiative that is highly regarded globally and is a just reward for all of his hard work here at Aston University.”