As a special series for this year’s Women’s History Month, IU’s India Gateway spotlighted nine remarkable women of Indian origin who studied at Indiana University. Follow the IU India Gateway on LinkedIn to read the full feature.
You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.
– Rabindranath Tagore, Indian poet and writer
IU Women of the World Campaign for Women’s History Month 2024 featured IU alumnae who are crossing the seas, navigating new paths with their sails flying high, inspiring many others as they work towards different milestones in life and careers. Whether featured or not, women contribute to the economy, home, and society through their perseverance, in all spheres of life and we applaud each achievement and milestone.
Tapati Dutta
Tapati Dutta is assistant professor of public health and interim chair of the Public Health Department, Fort Lewis College (FLC), Colorado. Her personal experiences as a first-generation-non-traditional-age-group graduate, growing up in a hetero-patriarchal background are the deepest influencers to promote indigenous, women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ professionals, and champion DEIAB-centric initiatives. Tapati considers emotional intelligence an important factor for professional success.
Practicing mindfulness in experiential learning!
She is a Kathak dance graduate and an art enthusiast wherein she uses natural bases such as wooden barks and rocks for her paintings. Her academic journey includes a BSW in social work, 1996, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India; an MA in social work, 1998, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; a PG Diploma in human resource management, 2003, Indira Gandhi National Open University, India; a master’s in population studies, 2014, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; and a PhD in public health, 2019, Indiana University Bloomington, USA.
Yamini Panchal
Yamini Panchal is a senior product manager at Dow Jones, UK, and responsible for launching new capabilities and driving revenue growth for B2B Integration Products across various business lines. She is also a founding member of the Women in Product UK, a platform for female product managers to share, learn, and help each other accelerate their career trajectories. Yamini started her career as a software engineer in Mumbai, India, and later joined PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) consulting in the US.
Yamini follows Barack Obama’s advice for success, which is simply to “learn how to get stuff done!”
On the personal front, the challenge she faced was committing to holistic well-being for better health. In her spare time, she enjoys experimenting with healthy dishes from various cuisines, as well as spending time in bookstores and museums, indulging her love for reading and cultural exploration. Her academic journey includes a BE in electronics and telecommunication, 2015, K.J. Somaiya College of Engineering, University of Mumbai, and an MS in information systems, 2017, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University Bloomington.
Sunitha Chitrapu
Sunitha Chitrapu is an independent media researcher based in Mumbai, India. She started her career as an assistant to the legendary Indian film director Shyam Benegal. She went on to join News Television India’s STAR Plus channel in the early years after India’s liberalization in the 1990s. Sunita takes up independent research projects and is associated with Indian Higher Education institutions through her various roles. She currently serves on the advisory board of Symbiosis Centre for Research in Media and Creative Industries, the Board of Studies, Communication & Media Studies, SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, and the Board of Studies, Department of Strategic Communication and Journalism, Sophia College, Mumbai.
Actively create a professional network that includes mentors and mentees!
Sunitha likes learning languages, doing yoga, and watching Korean dramas. Her academic journey includes a BSc in mathematics, 1992, Women’s Christian College, Chennai; a post-graduate diploma in social communications, 1993, Sophia Polytechnic, Mumbai; an MA in mass communications, 2005; and a PhD in mass communications, 2008, Department of Telecommunications, The Media School, Indiana University Bloomington.
Neha Kanjani
Neha Kanjani is a senior software engineer at ServiceNow, San Francisco, USA. She currently works with ServiceNow Inc.’s Generative AI Platform Team and oversees the integration of innovative Gen AI features for ServiceNow’s chatbot app. Neha aspires to advance her skills in prompt engineering and create pioneering systems with responsible AI that actively shape the ever-evolving tech landscape.
Neha’s strengths include problem-solving, continuous learning, grit, and strategic perspectives.
In her spare time, she enjoys dancing to Bollywood beats, rocking out in Zumba sessions, and is a regular at ballet shows and live performances; she seeks inspiration from the arts. Neha’s academic journey includes a BE in information technology, 2013, Vasavi College of Engineering, Osmania University, Hyderabad, and an MS in computer and information science, 2015, Indiana University Indianapolis.
Gauri P. Nayak
Gauri P. Nayak is a director at Deloitte, Mauritius. She has extensive experience leading sales, service, and digital transformation for cross-industry clients across regions, including India, USA, Europe, Mauritius, East & Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. She is now based in Mauritius, building Deloitte’s consulting practice. Gauri loves a good challenge and is committed to mentoring and guiding professionals to navigate their careers.
Gauri believes it is important to be driven, consistent, courageous, and authentic to succeed in life.
In her free time, Gauri loves to travel, explore local cafes, read, and organize/design her home. Her academic journey includes a BE in electronics and telecommunication, 2005, Goa University, India, and an MBA in marketing, 2015, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University Bloomington.
Divya McMillin
Divya McMillin is professor of global media studies and associate vice chancellor for innovation and global engagement at the University of Washington Tacoma, USA. She teaches courses spanning global media studies, postcolonial studies, and participatory design methodologies at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Divya holds affiliate teaching appointments in the University of Washington’s Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies South Asia Center and Center for Global Studies and is a guest lecturer at The London School of Economics. McMillin’s career commenced in print and broadcast journalism and she has previously worked with Indian National media including The Times of India, and All India Radio, as well as National Public Radio in the United States.
Empathy, trust, and humor are key for success professionally and personally!
Divya finds solace in music and art by playing the bass and cartooning. Her academic journey includes a BA in psychology, English, journalism, 1991, Mount Carmel College, Bangalore; a BS in communication, 1992, Bangalore University; an MA in communication, 1994, Pittsburg State University and a PhD in international communication and cultural studies, 1998, Indiana University Bloomington.
Neepa Majumdar
Neepa Majumdar is associate professor of English and film and media studies at the Department of English, University of Pittsburgh. She researches the history of Indian cinema. Neepa attributes her successes to the privileges she enjoyed in terms of education, class, and opportunities. This allowed her to take risks in her path to education, research, and career. Some of her strengths and wins have resulted from her exposure to multiple languages and her educational foundation in India. Through her diverse experiences, she learned to balance personal and professional life as well as create community and support structures for junior colleagues.
One can’t come up with new ideas if they only research their area.
Neepa’s favorite modes of relaxation are cooking and music. Her academic journey includes a BA in English, 1984, Presidency College, Calcutta University; an MA in English, 1986, Presidency College, Calcutta University; and a PhD in comparative literature, 2001, IU College of Arts and Sciences, Indiana University Bloomington.
Subhashini Prasad
Subhashini Prasad is a senior manager of strategy at Lodha Developers, UK, and a published author of two best-selling books. She started her career as a consultant with Deloitte Consulting and went on to lead more complex and cross-functional projects with Lodha Group, Mumbai, and HSBC India. After over 12 years of experience in consulting, Subhashini decided to take a break from her traditional career and pursue her childhood dream of becoming a published author. While expecting her second child, she wrote her debut book Not Really Indian, published by Notion Press in January 2020.
Subhashini prides herself in bringing a global outlook to her professional repertoire.
Subhashini is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and played competitive inter-league matches in West Java, Indonesia. An avid traveler, she has traveled to 45 countries and loves playing board games with her children, dancing, and doing Pilates. Her academic journey includes a BS in finance & marketing, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University Bloomington, where she was also honored as a Dean’s Lister in 2006. She has an MBA, 2011, Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.
Ankita Deka
Ankita Deka is associate professor of Social Work and MSW program director at Augsburg University, Minneapolis, USA. She has over 15 years of research and graduate teaching experience in the domain of health disparity and equity issues among marginalized populations. Ankita was recently promoted to the position of full professor and will assume this responsibility in the fall of 2024. As a Brown and immigrant faculty member and administrator, she worked to build legitimacy and space for her experiences.
Success is deeply personal and subjective as each chart their trajectory within their context, including overcoming challenges!
Ankita loves reading, dancing, and cooking when she is not working. Her academic journey includes a BA (Honors) in English, 2000, Hansraj College, Delhi University, India; an MSW in social work, 2002, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India; and a PhD in social work, 2012, Indiana University School of Social Work, Indiana University Indianapolis.
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