Professor Shalini Bharat is the new director of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). She had been the acting director since S. Parasuraman, her predecessor, resigned earlier this year.
Bharat has been working with TISS for more than three decades now. A gold medallist in MA and a PhD holder from Allahabad University, Bharat joined as a lecturer in 1984, and went on to become the first dean of the School of Health Systems Studies. Later, she was elevated to the role of deputy director (academic), and then given the additional charge of acting director in February.
A member of the governing body of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Bharat has also served as the National Coordinator of Global Fund Project – Saksham. She is also known for her association with the National Rural Health Mission and her presence on the governing board of the National Health Systems Resource Centre, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
S. Ramadorai, chairman of the governing board, TISS, said, “I am happy to welcome Prof. Bharat as director. As TISS gears up to cement its position as an institution of excellence in higher education, I am sure that Prof. Bharat, who brings with her a wealth of experience and vision, will take the initiative and ensure that TISS meets the challenges with passion and commitment.”
