• Higher education access
• Professional development
• Open knowledge
• Institutional development
• English language education
• Career guidance

At the Azim Premji University, Shantha leads the admissions outreach and engagement initiatives for postgraduate diploma and certificate programmes designed for professionals in education and development sector. 

With over two decades of experience spanning higher education, judicial administration, corporate human resources, and institutional development, she has contributed to the design and strengthening of systems that support equitable access to education and effective institutional processes. 

Since joining Azim Premji University in 2012, she has worked across admissions, publications, and translation initiatives. She has contributed to the development of admissions policies and processes that support transparency, diversity, and fairness in student selection and programme administration. 

Between 2016 and 2024, she led the University’s Translations Initiative and Publications portfolio. In this role, she worked with academics, publishers, translators, and educational institutions across India to expand access to knowledge in multiple languages. Shantha has anchored a prominent role in setting up the online open access portal ​‘Anuvada Sampada’. 

Her work has included the management of educational dialogues and collaborative initiatives with government agencies, higher education institutions, and civil society organisations. Her areas of engagement include policy development, stakeholder coordination, project management, copyright administration, and educational publishing. 

Prior to joining the University, Shantha worked in higher education institutions in the areas of admissions, placements, career development, and industry engagement. Earlier in her career, she worked with the High Court of Karnataka and IBM India, gaining experience in administration, governance, human resource management, and institutional systems. 

Her professional interests lie at the intersection of education, language, access, and institutional development. She is particularly interested in English language education for learners from underserved communities and in supporting those who perceive English as a barrier to learning and professional growth of working professionals from diverse backgrounds to pursue meaningful educational and professional growth. 

She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management and has completed CopyrightX: NLUD, a programme on comparative copyright law offered by the National Law University, Delhi in collaboration with Harvard Law School. Her co-authored paper, ​“Evolution of Management Education in Emerging Economies,” was presented at the IACBE Asia Regional Conference.