Deepti Kharod

Dr. Deepti Kharod serves as an Associate Professor at the Dreeben School of Education, University of the Incarnate Word, specializing in playful pedagogies, care and compassion in learning and teaching, and nature-based learning. Her work actively bridges academic research with community partnerships to foster culturally responsive teaching and compassionate learning communities across formal and informal educational settings.

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching, University of Texas at San Antonio (Early Childhood and Elementary Focus)
• M.A. in Journalism, University of California, Berkeley
• M.A. in Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley
• B.A. in International Studies, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Kharod's research investigates how playful, compassionate, and nature-based approaches transform educational practices, with particular emphasis on early childhood contexts. She examines the integration of care ethics and culturally sustaining pedagogies through interdisciplinary lenses, connecting social justice, environmental stewardship, and teacher identity development. Her community-engaged methodology partners with educators at institutions like the DoSeum and San Antonio Museum of Art.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a cohesive scholarly trajectory toward play advocacy and compassionate teacher education. Her work consistently demonstrates how playful learning environments advance equity, particularly through faith-based explorations, risk-taking in outdoor play, and culturally responsive frameworks that empower marginalized students and preservice teachers.

Her contributions have been recognized with significant awards:

• Sr. Margaret Rose Palmer Mission Continues Award for Education (2023)
• UIW KDP Chapter Community Service Award (2022)
• KDP Membership Recruitment Recognition (2022)
• KDP Service Awards

Dr. Kharod actively secures research funding to advance her mission, including the Interfaith Care of Creation grant (2022) and Compassionate Integrity Training Research Grant (2022). Current UIW-funded projects include 'Constructing faith in play' (Faculty Endowment Research Award, 2023) and 'Developing professional identity for preservice teachers from under-represented populations' (THECB Somos Unidos Grant, 2023), focusing on inclusive teacher development through playful learning.

Through leadership roles as Book Review Editor for The Association for the Study of Play and Chapter Counselor for Kappa Delta Pi, alongside service on the NAEYC Play Policy Practice Forum and San Antonio River Authority's Environmental Advisory Committee (2020-2022), Dr. Kharod extends her impact into community-based play advocacy, environmental education, and race-conscious community dialogues.