Rutvi Ashar is a university educator, strategist and trained architect committed to building inclusive, future-ready learning institutions. Her work lies at the intersection of design thinking, international education and communication strategy.

She leads Strategic Development at Anant National University, India’s first DesignX university, where she works with leadership and philanthropic partners to identify projects, build cross-sector programmes and strengthen institutional partnerships that shape the university’s long-term vision and impact. Alongside this role, she supports the Provost’s Office in developing, communicating and sustaining key academic initiatives.

Rutvi’s career has been deliberately interdisciplinary. She trained as an architect at the University of Pune, worked as an architect and design journalist, and pursued her Master of Science in Education at the University of Pennsylvania. She has designed academic programmes in India, shaped operations and communication strategies at Penn Medicine in the US and contributed to UNESCO’s work on lifelong learning. These experiences have enabled her to connect ideas across disciplines, ask sharper questions and execute complex projects that centre equity and learning.

As an early-career researcher, she explores how design education in India has historically been underplayed and how societal perceptions limit its potential as a career. Her interest lies in translating lessons from global institutions into scalable models for emerging economies that are locally rooted yet globally responsive.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature, teaching herself the piano, and sharing her semi-successful baking experiments with friends and family.

Contact: rutvi.ashar@anu.edu.in