Scholars

Aishwarya is a professional with three years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She holds an MBA in Marketing & Biotechnology from the University of Pune and currently works as a consultant with social enterprises and state governments. Her project themes range from education to environment, and her skills include program management, partnership building, training, and facilitation. In her previous role, Aishwarya led successful projects aimed at advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals through global mobility programs. She has also taught over 200 underprivileged children at a government school for two years as a Teach for India Fellow. Furthermore, she has spearheaded mindfulness programs in various organizations and is a Toastmasters International Ambassador, advocating for building leadership through public speaking. Aishwarya’s passion lies in nurturing leadership and empowering individuals towards a more inclusive society.

Host Organization: Northwestern University, Buffett Institute for Global Affairs

Role at Host Organization: As a Global Engagement Programs Fellow, Aishwarya will play a role in managing global engagement programs at GLO. The Fellowship will have some flexibility based on the Fellows interest and experience—possibilities include assessment, event planning, program/partnership management and development, marketing and recruitment, curriculum development, and alum engagement.

Jayashree S. has four years of experience coordinating and managing research in ophthalmology and coordinating ethics committee activities. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Periyar Maniammai University in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. During her work as a coordinator, she had the opportunity to interact with research participants and listen to their needs. The role as Ethics Committee Coordinator motivated her to protect the safety, rights, and welfare of research participants. Through these experiences, she developed strong skills in project coordination, training, planning, monitoring, and reporting. Her desire to protect the welfare of participants has led her to advocate for sustainability. Jayashree is committed to identifying areas where a sustainable approach to healthcare is needed and finding a reliable and innovative solution to meet that need without compromising patient safety.

Selorm is a dedicated and dynamic professional who is deeply committed to driving positive change and sustainable development across Africa. Armed with a Master’s in Business Administration, Selorm possesses a rich tapestry of skills encompassing project management, research, and social enterprise development. He is a visionary founder and lead strategist at Ecowillow Ghana, fostering environmental governance and nurturing youth talents. Selorm’s extensive engagement with various organizations, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and ActionAid Ghana, demonstrates his passion for societal progress. As a seasoned researcher and recruitment consultant, he has led initiatives amplifying voices in social enterprises and driving impact strategies. Selorm’s trajectory is characterized by a fervent belief in competent leadership, social entrepreneurship, and fostering a sustainable future for generations to come.

Host Organization: Generation

Role at Host Organization: As a Global Business Development Fellow, Selorm will help identify potential employer partners and the key stakeholders at those companies, initiate outreach, and pitch to interested organizations. They will use Salesforce to record and track interactions and analyze their pipeline. They will also provide account management support to key employer partners, support the delivery of key partnership initiatives (e.g. running events, gaining employer feedback, designing capacity building sessions) to grow the relationships.

Prakriti Chawla is a Social Designer, currently serving as an AIF Banyan Impact Fellow. She has spent most of her childhood on the campus of Muskaan, a world-renowned training institute for persons with intellectual disabilities (PwIDs) in India. Over the past four years, she has worked towards the inclusion of marginalized people in the mainstream workforce through multiple path-breaking projects through partnerships with governments and nonprofits. Prakriti completed her Master’s degree in Social Design from Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University in Delhi, where she led various projects on migration, disabilities, gender, self-advocacy, and education. She has a certification on disability livelihoods from EnAble India. She has had on-ground experience in the mainstream hospitality industry and has worked with Lemon Tree Hotels, one of the first companies to hire people with disabilities on a large scale. While there, she directly worked with the Head of Diversity & Inclusion to help develop inclusive policies for the national chain of hotels. Along with India’s Skill Council for Persons with Disability and Muskaan, she has also helped in the creation of a standardized curriculum on vocational training for PwIDs for national dissemination. In her most recent project with Muskaan, she conducted a research study on the experiences of family members of people with intellectual disabilities. As a continuous learner, Prakriti believes in expanding her horizons and therefore has learned basic sign language and is also a budding clay artist. Prakriti has been recognized as a Rising Star by Wedu Global.

Prakriti Pandia is a psychotherapist and researcher. She has four years of experience working in NGOs and cooperates as a psychologist and trainer. She has expertise working with adolescents and young adults on diverse topics. She has been continuously working towards bridging the gap in accessing affordable mental health services and reducing its stigma. In the wake of Covid-19, she started an initiative named “Community Yarning” to provide free online group therapy to individuals struggling with various mental health concerns. She has a Master’s degree in Psychology (Psychosocial Clinical Studies) from Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD). She has multiple certifications in research from the University of Manchester, which she gained while working with Sangath on the Communication-Centered Parent-Mediated Treatment For Autism Spectrum disorder in South Asia (COMPASS) Project for a year. Prakriti underwent one year of training in Narrative Therapy from Dulwich Center, Australia. She has worked passionately on research projects on ‘Interplay of trauma in lives of survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, ‘1984 Anti-Sikh Riots survivors and processing of trauma’ and ‘Pre-and Post-retirement effects on Elderlies.’ She is currently working on Adverse Child Experience research focusing on Social-emotional learning and trauma-informed practices. Prakriti is a trauma-informed therapist and presently enrolled in “CIT program for Educators in South Asia.” Prakriti is currently working with Srijan Foundation on the “Empowering Girls and Ending Child Marriage” Project and conducting qualitative research “Dhuku Practice” in Jharkhand, India, as an American India Foundation Fellow.

Sidharth Hendre hails from Pune, Maharashtra. He graduated in Political Science (Hons) from MIT-World Peace University, Pune. Holding a nuance in Political Science, he has interests in Public Policy and Human Rights advocacy. During the last year of his graduation, he did his dissertation on ‘Manual Scavenging in India: Caste not Law dictates the fate.’ Being an extremely active person outside of academics, he has completed two years of the National Cadet Corps, which included Army Attachment Camp and Combined Annual Training Camp, and secured an ‘A’ grade in the ‘B Certificate’ exam. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, he has been continuously volunteering for the betterment of sex workers and transgender communities in Pune City, by assisting them in providing appropriate support from the government authorities and by providing relief kits by the means of crowdfunding and raising awareness. Right after his graduation, he went on to do fellowship with Goonj in Delhi, Maharashtra, Chennai, and Chhattisgarh. He worked in various thematic areas of Education, Healthcare and Sanitation, and Urban and Rural Development. He also worked under the initiative of ‘Not Just a Piece of Cloth,’ educating urban and rural masses about safe and hygienic menstrual practices, and worked on the positioning and visibility of the initiative. Apart from that, he also worked on Urban Operations in Goonj, Chennai. Throughout his travels, studies, and experiences in various parts of India, he has developed a diverse perspective on various socio-economic issues.

Urvashi Suraj hails from Mumbai and is currently serving as a Banyan Impact Fellow in Dewas, India. A Chartered Accountant by profession, her career has been a unique blend of corporate and social sector experiences. Prior to the fellowship, she worked on the partnerships team at a social impact startup, where she built strategic alliances with ecosystem players. She has also previously worked in the statutory audit function at KPMG, reviewing financial statements and testing internal controls of public and private limited companies. Urvashi is passionate about community-driven development and the power of collaboration to achieve impact at scale.

Vandana is a full-stack marketing and communications professional from India. With over a decade of experience, she holds a Master of Arts in Journalism & Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University, a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, and a BE in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Gujarat Technological University. A former engineer and a journalist, she is now in the management realm, leading organizational strategy and implementation for scaling outreach and communication efforts. Vandana has diverse experience working with startups, entrepreneurs, government bodies, academic institutes, and media. She has experience in managing brands, creating new and diverse content, writing, and program management, and is adept at using digital tools and platforms such as InDesign, QuarkXpress, Canva, WordPress, Adobe Experience Management, and social media. She enjoys writing and curating stories from the higher education and health sectors and has previously covered areas such as entrepreneurship, leadership, grassroots innovation, research, technology, and community. Vandana has a passion for curating impact stories and is comfortable with various formats of print and digital content. Over her decade-long career, she has worked with Business Standard – the financial daily, IIT Gandhinagar, IIM Ahmedabad, National Innovation Foundation – India, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, health tech startup Shivom and most recently with the Indian School of Business. Her expertise is in strategic management, outreach and communications, program and stakeholder management, brand development, negotiation and conflict resolution, and team management.

Host Organization: Center for Open Data Enterprise (CODE)

Role at Host Organization: As a Communications, Outreach, and Business Development Fellow, Vandana will work with the Research and Communications Manager to support CODE’s communications, outreach, and business development strategies. The Fellow will be responsible for: updating and implementing CODE’s communications strategy, supporting the entire CODE team to engage with current and potential partners, implement the business development strategy, and drive revenue growth.