معرفی
Rekha Datta, Ph.D. is Professor and Freed Endowed Chair in Social Sciences in the Department of Political Science and Sociology at Monmouth University. She joined the university faculty in 1994 and was promoted to full professor in 2008. Beyond her teaching responsibilities, Datta has held numerous significant administrative positions including interim provost and vice president for academic affairs (2019-2021), department chair (2000-2010), founding director of the Global Understanding Project, interim director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (2014-2015), and interim vice provost for global education (2015-2016).
Dr. Datta received her undergraduate education at Presidency University in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, earned an M.A. in political science at the University of Calcutta, and completed her Ph.D. in political science at the University of Connecticut in 1990.
Datta's research focuses on Empowerment of Women, Comparative Politics, India, Pakistan, Political Development, Human Security, and the United Nations. Her work demonstrates a consistent commitment to understanding gender issues, political development in South Asia, and human security frameworks. As a Fulbright U.S. Scholar recipient (2017-2018), she has conducted research and teaching in India, further strengthening her expertise in South Asian political systems.
Her recent publications span topics including gender discrimination in rural India, India's foreign policy regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and educational challenges during the pandemic. These works reflect her ability to connect theoretical frameworks with contemporary global challenges.
- Outstanding Leader in Experiential Learning award (2011)
- Global Visionary Award (2012)
- Distinguished Teaching Award (2003)
- Humanitarian of the Year Award (2004)
Datta has served as a first-year advisor and on numerous University committees. She founded Women and Girls' Education International, a New Jersey-based non-profit providing educational support for marginalized women and girls. Her leadership extends beyond campus through service on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth and Middlesex Counties. She has also been instrumental in establishing the Monmouth University Polling Institute and has served on the Committee on the Status of Representation and Diversity of the International Studies Association.
Her teaching portfolio includes courses on World Politics, A Comparative Study of Women in the World, Democracy in Asia and South Asia, and Early Political Thought.
