Durba Chattaraj — Co-Founder
As an institution-builder, educationist, and anthropologist with a decade of experience in building new universities and educational programs in global contexts, I specialize in training new learning populations to develop their writing and critical thinking skills; in popularizing the reach of the social sciences and the humanities across disciplines and institutions; and in developing strategies for expanding the reach and scope of higher education. A creative thinker across sectors, I have expertise in cross-cultural collaborations, and have consulted with filmmakers, policy experts, architects, engineers, publishers, and artists looking to build bridges across differing cultural terrains. Trained at UNC Chapel Hill, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania as an anthropologist and writing pedagog, I became one of the first-twenty faculty to found a brand-new Liberal Arts University in India - Ashoka University - which went on to become one of India's leading institutions of higher education. In an ever more-challenging environment, I continue to believe in the essential relationship between the university and democracy, with a focus on expanding critical thinking, writing, and reasoning skills to non-traditional learners, across disciplines and contexts. I have a proven track record of popularizing the humanities and social sciences, and bringing their insights to new learning populations, from policy wonks to engineers; and of creating educational start-ups that go on to become smash hits. I love building things and collaborating with others to create new programs, curricula, and institutions. I teach, mentor, train, read, write, create, democratize, and research in order to take the flame of knowledge ever forward. And I have a lot of fun along the way.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a Higher Education Specialist with expertise in curriculum development and critical thinking programs.
Location: Princeton, New Jersey, United States
Experience: 15 yrs
Skills
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Teaching Writing
- Curriculum Development
- Teaching Excellence
- Higher Education Leadership
- Project Management
- University Lecturing
Career Highlights
- Pioneered a leading liberal arts university in India.
- Expert in cross-cultural educational consulting.
- Innovative curriculum developer for diverse learning populations.
Work Experience
Global Quill
Founder, Global Quill I Writing, Communication, and Critical Thinking Consultant I Higher Ed Leader (6 mos)
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Lecturer, First Year Writing Program (6 mos)
Princeton University
Lecturer, The Princeton Writing Program (2 yrs 5 mos)
Ashoka University
Founding Faculty member and Assistant Professor of Writing and Anthropology (7 yrs 1 mo)
Director of Writing (5 yrs 1 mo)
University of Pennsylvania
Senior Lecturer (4 yrs 11 mos)
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD at Yale University
Master of Philosophy - MPhil at Yale University
Bachelor of Arts - BA at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
