brings two decades of leadership across higher education, nonprofit, policy, civic engagement, and arts organizations. She currently serves as Director of University Programs at the Pulitzer Center for Journalism, where she builds partnerships that connect universities, students, and educators to journalism’s role in deepening understanding, civic learning, and global engagement. Her career has included senior leadership roles at Duke University, The Hunt Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, and McKendree University, where she has led strategy, operations, team development, student engagement, organizational change, and belonging-centered work. Across these roles, Shruti has worked alongside CEOs, presidents, executive teams, and boards to shape strategic plans, strengthen systems, design retreats, guide teams through transition, and move ambitious ideas from conversation to measurable outcomes.

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Shruti’s leadership is rooted in authentic relationships, data-informed decision-making, and the belief that people do their best work when they feel seen, trusted, and connected to purpose. She has built a career translating complexity into clarity—whether supporting executive leaders, improving team morale and efficacy, advancing identity-conscious leadership, or helping organizations align their values with their daily practices. Shruti has also contributed nationally to the student affairs profession through NASPA, including service on the NASPA Board as National Knowledge Community Director and prior leadership with the Asian Pacific Islanders Knowledge Community. Known for bringing both candor and levity into serious work, Shruti believes laughter can be a tool for trust, a release valve in hard moments, and sometimes the thing that helps people break through when the room feels stuck. Her work is grounded in strategy, outcomes, management, and belonging, and reflects a deep commitment to building organizations where relationships are real, decisions are thoughtful, and impact can be felt. She is also the co-author of Identity-Conscious Supervision in Student Affairs: Building Relationships and Transforming Institutions, published by Routledge.