Durga Kale

Background

About Durga Kale

Instructor and researcher with over seven years of experience in academic and industry projects related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (and Belonging), along with Advocacy through a Justice-based lens (DEIB-AJ). As an anthropologist, I study the cultural and historical dimensions of religion, land, and identity in South Asia, using qualitative analysis, fieldwork, and oral and material sources. I also teach humanities courses and conduct seminars on teaching and pedagogy in diverse learning spaces. In my current roles as I transition from academic to industry space, I am working on delivering research on education, and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) to advise on EDIAJ-focused policy change. I am working with a variety of groups (from academics, businesses, NGOs and various stakeholders including marginalized communities and refugees) to collate qualitative data to advise on making efficient policy changes for a sustainable shared future. As a larger vision, I work on making academic research accessible and engaging for diverse audiences, especially those who face barriers to education. I do this by creating and hosting a podcast on anthropology and archaeology, writing blogs on current issues and trends in education, and illustrating children's books and museum catalogues. I have successfully increased the podcast metrics by over 75% in the last three years, and received multiple awards and recognition for my illustrations and outreach activities. I am looking for opportunities to apply my interdisciplinary and people-oriented skills to education projects that aim to promote social justice and inclusion.