Florida International University’s (FIU) international business teaching professor, David Wernick, has been honored with the 2025 Changemaking Education Award by the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida. This prestigious recognition celebrates educators who inspire students to become engaged, socially responsible leaders. FIU alumna and assistant teaching professor of public policy, Daniella Long, was also among this year’s honorees.
A faculty member at FIU since 2002, Wernick teaches international business and management courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Beyond his classroom contributions, he advises the International Business Honor Society, which oversees the Bandhwari Women’s Project — an initiative that earned him this award for its life-changing impact on women in rural India.
The Bandhwari Women’s Project was born out of Wernick’s trip to India, where he explored the nation’s economy and culture. During a visit to Bandhwari, a village near New Delhi, he witnessed the hardships faced by women and children. There, he met Anup Nair, founder of the Incentive Foundation, who along with his wife had “adopted” the community by establishing a women’s center and supporting local families.
Motivated by this encounter, Wernick launched the Bandhwari Women’s Project as a bridge between students and the women’s cooperative. The initiative empowers women to create handmade products that are sold internationally, with profits reinvested into community development. Students not only contribute to the project but also travel to India to see firsthand the impact of their work and engage deeply with local culture.
Reflecting on the project’s decade-long journey, Wernick expressed gratitude for the collaboration and its positive outcomes. “It has been a privilege to work with our friends at the Incentive Foundation to build a program that’s touched so many lives,” he said. “We aim to continue this journey of friendship, learning, and sustainable growth in the years ahead.”
Through his leadership, Wernick has shown how education can extend beyond the classroom — creating real-world impact and nurturing future global changemakers.
