Aakanksha Bhatia

About Aakanksha Bhatia

Dr Aakanksha Bhatia is an educator, psychologist, and social impact consultant with a robust academic background in Psychology and Education. She currently serves as the Lead Subject Matter Expert (Social Emotional Learning) at ETS India, where she is working on the \"Understanding Teaching Pathways\" program under the ETS Research Institute in Princeton, USA. Before this, she was an on-site ETS consultant to NCERT for PARAKH, where she contributed to designing and implementing national-level educational assessment programs. Additionally, she founded MannRaahi, a teen mental health organization focused on adolescent and youth mental health, partnering with entities such as the DLF Foundation, OP Jindal University, and IG-DTUW. Her work encompasses need assessment, curriculum development, capacity building, and research and development.Aakanksha has also served as an Assistant Professor at Lakshmi Bai College, University of Delhi, where she was instrumental in establishing the Department of Psychology as a founding faculty member. She has also taught at Daulat Ram College and Ramanujan College, University of Delhi, where her innovative pedagogic style significantly engaged her students’ interest in the discipline.As a social impact consultant, Aakanksha has collaborated with various organizations and NGOs working in the education and mental health sectors, such as iDreamCareer, SEEDS India, CBSE, Khushii, Nai Disha, and DCCW Paalna. She has led and managed projects supported by organizations like UNDP, UNICEF, CSF, the Honeywell Safe Schools Program, and GIZ. Academically, Aakanksha was the college and North Campus topper during her B.A. Honours and secured the third position in her M.A. Psychology at the University of Delhi. She also completed her B.Ed. from the Central Institute of Education, University of Delhi, and earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Delhi. She qualified for UGC NET-JRF and was upgraded to UGC-Senior Research Fellow (SRF) until she submitted her thesis in July 2019. Her Ph.D. research focuses on the everyday dynamics of social inclusion and exclusion in low-income educational contexts with a developmental and gender-transformative approach. She has published research in areas including education, social inclusion and exclusion, intimate relationships, and religion.As a young and dynamic scholar with a deep understanding of the socio-psychological nuances of education, inclusion, and gender, Aakanksha is committed to making a positive impact through her work. She strives for excellence in all her endeavours.

Experience

1. Founder

   Mannraahi मनराही

   Mar 2022 — Present

Education

• ILSS - India Leaders for Social Sector

  Leadership Program

  2022

• Queen Mary's School, Tis Hazari, Delhi

  Awarded Merit Certificate for scoring highest marks in English (95%,CBSE) in QMS

  1994 — 2008

• Delhi University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Hons - Indraprastha College for Women (IP)

  2008 — 2011

• Delhi University

  Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) - Central Institute of Education (CIE)

  2013 — 2014

• Delhi University

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD (Psychology)

  2014 — 2020

• Delhi University

  Master of Arts (M.A.)

  2011 — 2013