Prof. Rajinder Kaur is Dean, Faculty of Law and Professor of Law at the University Institute of Legal Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh. She also serves as Honorary Director, Panjab University Publication Bureau. Her extensive administrative experience encompasses roles as Chief Vigilance Officer, Director of the University Institute of Legal Studies, and Professor-in-Charge (Academic) at Panjab University’s Hoshiarpur Centre. Prof. Kaur is visiting faculty at prestigious institutions including IIM Kashipur, IIM Jammu, IIM Rohtak, and IIFT, New Delhi. She chaired an external peer review team as a foreign expert at Khulna University, Bangladesh, and was invited to Pepperdine University, USA for the Global Dispute Resolution Conference.
India Fellows Years: Indian Fellows 2025-2026
Pooja Purang
Prof. Pooja Purang is Professor of Psychology and Head of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Trained as an organisational psychologist, her research examines gender, fairness, well-being, mentoring, and the work-family interface, with particular attention to women in STEM and non-linear career trajectories in India. Prof. Purang has played a significant role in shaping humane and ethical academic institutions. As Head of Department, she leads a large multidisciplinary faculty and works to strengthen the place of humanities and social sciences within a premier technological university through curriculum innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international engagement. As Convener of the Gender Cell and Internal Complaints Committee at IIT Bombay, she has heightened gender sensitisation, institutional accountability, and safe academic environments. Prof. Purang also served as the first woman Vice Chairperson of the JEE Advanced and CEED/UCEED examinations at IIT Bombay.
Karuna R Gokarn
Prof. Karuna R. Gokarn is the Principal and Professor of Microbiology at St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Mumbai, and the first woman Principal of the 156-year-old institution. She assumed office as Principal-in-Charge in June 2025 and as Principal in October 2025. With over 31 years of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership, she is a passionate educator and institution-builder known for her commitment to academic excellence, teamwork, and quality enhancement in higher education. She previously served as Vice-Principal (Academics) and Director of the college’s quality assurance cell and contributed to the college securing the 89th All-India Rank in National Institutional Ranking Framework 2025. Prof. Gokarn secured a ₹3-crore DBT-BUILDER grant as DBT Coordinator to strengthen research infrastructure, and as National Education Policy Nodal Officer, oversaw the implementation of four-year undergraduate and two-year postgraduate programmes.
Sukhdev Roy
Prof. Sukhdev Roy is Head of the Department of Physics and Computer Science at Dayalbagh Educational Institute (DEI), India. Prof. Roy serves as an Assessor, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), as Secretary-cum-Convener. Advisory Committee on Education, Dayalbagh Educational Institutions and Head of the Department of Physics and Computer Science, Secretary, DEI Academic and Administrative Audit Committee, Coordinator, NAAC and Convener, Research Advisory Committee (RAC). With 33 years of teaching and research experience, he has been instrumental in implementing the New Education Policy-2020, formulating DEI Research Promotion Policy, enriching UG, PG and PhD programs, establishing research in cutting-edge emerging areas and strengthening collaborations with prestigious international Institutes to achieve DEI’s two-decade Vision-2031.
He has served as Visiting Professor at Harvard University, the University of Waterloo, the University of Würzburg, and Osaka University, as well as at City University of London and Queen Mary University of London.
Bijayalaxmi Nanda
Prof. Bijayalaxmi Nanda, Principal of Miranda House and Professor of Political Science, is a distinguished academic leader and scholar. A recipient of the ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship and the Delhi University Vice-Chancellor’s Teacher’s Excellence Award (2017), she has been honoured with several prestigious honours, including the Kamala Power Women Award (2024), Shiksha Seva Samman by Delhi Teacher’s University (2024), and the Aalekh Foundation Women Achiever Award. She also received the Pt. Deendayal Upadhya Excellence Award (2019) and the Best Principal Award by National Edu Trust of India for her commitment to promoting Sustainable Development Goals in education. During her tenure, Miranda House has ranked among India’s top colleges under the National Institutional Ranking Framework for nine consecutive years.
C.T. Aravindakumar
Prof. C.T. Aravindakumar is the Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala (since 2023) and a Senior Professor at the School of Environmental Sciences. He has over 400 publications in international journals/conference proceedings. He was the team leader of India’s Arctic Expedition in July 2017. He was the Chairman of the Examination Reform Commission (Govt of Kerala, 2021). During his tenure as Vice-Chancellor, the University bagged A++ from NAAC, Category 1 institutional status from the UGC, 43rd position (and 17th in State University category) in NIRF and Global ranking (TIMES) 501-600. He has been a visiting professor/scientist at reputed universities and research organizations in 17 countries across Europe, the USA, Australia, and Asia.
Jai Kumar Sharma
Mr. Jai Kumar Sharma is a mathematics teacher at an Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), Nandurbar, a government-run tribal residential school under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. He teaches mathematics to students in Grades 6 – 12, working primarily with first-generation learners from tribal and marginalized communities. He also serves as a Master Trainer for UNICEF India’s TALASH (Tribal Aptitude, Life Skills and Self-Esteem Hub) initiative, supporting teacher development and instructional improvement in government schools.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Sharma worked as a Mathematics Faculty member at Physics Wallah Pvt. Ltd., where he delivered concept-based and exam-oriented instruction and contributed to curriculum development and assessment design. He also served as an online Mathematics Tutor with Focus Edumatics Pvt. Ltd., providing one-to-one instruction to U.S. students, and as a Subject Matter Expert with Chegg India Pvt. Ltd., supporting learners across Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, and Statistics.
Mr. Sharma holds an M.Sc. from Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh State University and a B.Ed. from Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University. He is CTET-qualified (2022) and has completed international certifications in online teaching, educational technology, and social-emotional learning from institutions including the University of London, the University of New South Wales, and the University of Colorado.
During his Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) program, Mr. Sharma is observing and participating in secondary mathematics classrooms, collaborating with U.S. teachers, and engaging in professional development on student-centered pedagogy, assessment, and instructional technology. He is understanding how American schools support diverse and first-generation learners through differentiated instruction, project-based learning, and data-informed teaching practices, and developing curriculum resources and teaching strategies that can be adapted to high-need, low-resource school settings in India.
Neel Kamal Mishra
Dr. Neel Kamal Mishra is a secondary school science educator teaching at a government school in Delhi. Originally from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Mishra has over 27 years of experience to the field of education. His students come from underprivileged families, many of whom are the children of daily wage workers. He transforms complex science concepts into interesting, engaging, and accessible lessons that resonate with his students’ lives.
His academic background is both diverse and profound, holding a Ph.D. in History, a B.Sc., and an M.A. in Education. This unique interdisciplinary foundation allows him to approach science pedagogy with a broad intellectual perspective, blending scientific inquiry with educational theory.
Dr. Mishra is a recipient of the Delhi State Award, an honor reflecting his excellence in teaching and commitment to student welfare. Beyond the classroom, he is the editor of a science magazine and a mentor and guide for student-led e-magazines across the state.
Through the FTEA program, Dr. Mishra is exploring how the U.S. and other participating countries integrate innovative science teaching methods that foster curiosity, logical reasoning, and problem-solving skills among students. He is committed to fostering an environment of curiosity and critical thinking, ensuring that every learner — regardless of their socio-economic background — has the opportunity to excel in the world of science.
GAGANDEEP KAUR
Dr. Gagandeep Kaur has been teaching science at a government school in Sensra Kalan, Amritsar for nine years. She has a PhD in computer supported cooperative learning from Panjab University, Chandigarh. She works closely with underprivileged learners, striving to make science education accessible and meaningful for all students.
She is actively involved in several national-level educational initiatives, including the NISHTHA program, National Achievement Survey (NAS), Ayushman Bharat Project, and has contributed by recording lectures for the DIKSHA and the NCERT e-PG Pathshala Project. She has participated in national-level workshops conducted by reputed organizations such as CSE, AAETI, Nimli, IIT Bombay, IISc Bengaluru, and NCERT, New Delhi, and presented research papers at national and international conferences and published her work in reputed journals and edited books.
She serves as a resource person and a Block mentor for various STEM seminars, environmental and adolescent training programs, playing a significant role in mentoring educators and school heads. She has acted as an evaluator in the INSPIRE-MANAK program and the RAA science exhibitions. She has received several awards, including the Best Teacher Award, Best TLM Award, and received appreciation certificates from the Honorary Education Secretary, Punjab, in recognition of her efforts in enhancing the quality of education.
Through the Fulbright TEA program, she intends to learn new pedagogical skills and wants to share her knowledge with the whole community of teachers globally for fostering curiosity and critical thinking among young learners across the world.
Shubhrika Pansari
Ms. Shubhrika Pansari is an Assistant Professor in English at the Department of Law, Maharaja Surajmal Institute in New Delhi. She has qualified in the UGC NET three times and teaches literature and communication skills to undergraduate and postgraduate students. She has an MPhil in English Literature from Department of English & Culture Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh where she worked on her dissertation titled Feminine Voices in Retelling of Ramayana: A Study of Select Texts. Additionally, she has completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Translation from Indira Gandhi National Open University.
In her academic oeuvre, Shubhrika has presented papers at various national and international conferences. Her research areas include Indian mythology and Indian fiction. She loves mandala art and creates art from waste materials. She in fascinated by the diversity of cultures and loves to curate cultural events.
As a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant, Shubhrika is teaching Hindi at Mississippi Valley State University. In addition to her teaching duties, she plans to foster a deeper understanding of Indian culture by exchanging knowledge about the diverse social, religious, and regional practices that shape the language. She is working on finding a way to link the East and the West through art and literature. She aspires to utilize her Fulbright experiences to explore new teaching methods amidst the traditional approach of teaching in her own country, and to come up with more hands-on and practice-oriented pedagogies grounded in art and literature.