Vandana S.

About Vandana S.

Vandana (she/her) was born and raised in New Delhi, India. She embarked on her academic journey with a fervent dedication to advancing educational diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in leadership. In August 2023, she began a Ph.D. in Educational Administration at the University at Buffalo (UB), SUNY. Vandana\'s four prior degrees include a B.A.(Hons.) in Political Science from the University of Delhi, India, as well as a Bachelor of Education, Master of Education, and Master of Education with a specialization in Social Justice and Education for Change from Lakehead University, ON, Canada. With over seven years of combined teaching experience in India and Canada, Vandana honed her pedagogical and leadership skills and deepened her understanding of diverse educational contexts. Through her UB Registrar’s Office Graduate Assistantship and serving as co-chair for the 20••••24 UB Graduate School of Education’s Student Research Symposium, Vandana developed proficiencies in student information systems, public relations, event management, organization, and social media. Vandana’s research interests encompass the intersections of educational leadership, policy, gender studies, inclusive education, and equity. She endeavors to research innovative DEI approaches in educational administration and to contribute meaningfully to advancing educational systems that empower all learners, regardless of their backgrounds, physical abilities, or circumstances.Apart from academia, Vandana is an accomplished higher education assistant to the administrator with over 2 years of experience as a Student Solutions & Scheduling Specialist Assistant in the Office of the Registrar at UB. In this role, Vandana assisted the scheduling team with generating data integrity reports, maintaining EMS backups, managing scheduling communications, and updating course catalogs and class schedules. She provided exceptional customer support to students, faculty, and prospective students by addressing inquiries regarding registration deadlines, account holds, class schedules, and academic policies. With expertise in managing and updating student records in PeopleSoft, she ensured strict compliance with FERPA regulations while handling sensitive information. She also prepared official enrollment verification letters and transcripts, and contributes to office operations through event coordination and administrative support. Vandana is detail-oriented, committed to fostering an inclusive environment, and passionate about enhancing efficiency and promoting student success.

Experience

1. Elementary School Teacher

   Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB)

   Aug 2022 — Present · Hamilton, ON, CA

Education

• Maharshi Dayanand University

  Master of Education - MEd, Education

  2013 — 2014

• Western University

  Reading Part 1, NTIP Program

• Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University

  Bachelor of Education - BEd, Elementary and secondary Education and Teaching

  2012 — 2013

• ELementary Teachers Federation Of Ontario {ETFO}

  Special Education {Part 1}, Special Education and Teaching

  2020 — 2020

• Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto

  ABQ course senior-Social Science, Social Sciences

  2018 — 2019

• Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto

  Additional Basic Qualification-junior, Elementary Education and Teaching

  2019 — 2019

• University at Buffalo

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Educational Leadership and Administration, General

• Elementary Teachers Federations of Ontario

  Continuing Education, Special Education Part 2

• Western University

  Continuing Education, Primary Education

• Daulat Ram College, Delhi University

  B.A (honours) Political Science , Political Science and Government

  2009 — 2012

• Lakehead University

  Master of Education - MEd, Education

  2017 — 2018

• Western University

  Additional Qualifications on Mathematics-primary and Junior classes, Mathematics

  2020 — 2020