Originally from Pittsburgh’s Northside and a graduate of Perry Traditional Academy, Pettus earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh before receiving her MBA from Rosemont College, now part of Villanova University. Most recently, she graduated with her PhD in Information Systems and Communications at Robert Morris University in May 2026, where her dissertation examined cyberstalking, digital harassment and deepfakes. Currently, Pettus serves as a Visiting Professor in Quanzhou, located in China’s Fujian Province, where she teaches courses in AI and computer technology ethics and database management.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is one of the nation’s most competitive international academic and cultural exchange programs, supporting scholars and professionals who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership potential. Through the program, Pettus will have the opportunity to engage in international collaboration while representing both RMU and the United States abroad. Her project aims to strengthen digital ethics and responsible leadership education in East Africa while equipping students with practical frameworks for addressing online safety, misinformation, artificial intelligence ethics and data governance. The initiative will also foster collaboration between U.S. and Ugandan faculty on interdisciplinary curriculum development and create a teaching model that integrates academic theory with real-world case studies and application.

“Digital harm doesn’t respect borders and neither should the conversation about how we prevent it,” said Pettus. “I’m honored that Fulbright gave me a chance to do this work in Uganda, to learn as much as I teach and to bring new perspectives back to my students and my field.”

As a first-generation scholar, Pettus said her academic and professional journey has been shaped by perseverance, lifelong learning and a commitment to creating opportunities for others.

Before transitioning into higher education, Pettus built a career as an HR executive, bringing decades of professional leadership experience into the classroom and her doctoral studies. Her selection reflects RMU’s continued commitment to supporting scholars and faculty pursuing impactful global opportunities.

“The Fulbright scholarship is bigger than me. It’s a reminder that a kid from the Northside of Pittsburgh can carry her story into classrooms in China, into research in Uganda and back home again. I’m grateful, and I’m not done,” Pettus said.

About the Fulbright U.S. Program

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments, host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The Program operates in over 160 countries worldwide.