Our Program Team
Meet our dedicated and passionate team who are working tirelessly to spark the change! If you'd like to join us, please check our vacancies here.
Anu Parthasarathy
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Anu is involved in all things professional development at ArtSparks. She serves as a key part of the induction training process for new team members. Mentoring and capacity building Program Managers in particular, Anu has worked to support their ongoing growth and development in the domain of art education. Anu also coordinates and executes ArtSparks’ professional learning offerings, working closely with the Manager of the Professional Learning program. She also serves as one of the facilitators of ArtSparks' EdSparks Collective program, having played a critical role in the program's development. A passionate art educator, committed to advocating for the arts and building wider and deeper awareness about how the visual arts can develop 21st century learning and life skills in children from diverse backgrounds, Anu has also worked directly with children, providing robust art education opportunities for them. She herself is an avid painter and photographer. Prior to her work at ArtSparks, Anu worked for several years, both in India and the US, in different capacities: conducting art classes for children within her local community; working with schools teachers and administrators to usher innovative practices in teaching and learning; serving as a product designer; setting up and running, as director and partner, a business to support traditional craft practices in India; working as a web designer & developer in the US. Her commitment to advocacy around the arts in education is what leads her now to her work in professionally developing adults—teachers, educators, nonprofit administrators—in the domain of art education.
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Chetan S
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Chetan provides administrative, logistical and field support to ArtSparks Foundation's programs, responsible for the overall coordination of the organization's work, regularly collect, carefully review and update all program-related data during the school year as per guidelines and standards on an ongoing basis and in a timely manner and conduct timely follow-ups with facilitators and program team. He supports in planning and organizing programs and activities and performing key operational duties. He is organized and detail-oriented, comfortable working with diverse teams. Prior to ArtSparks, Chetan worked closely with social entrepreneurs, adept at designing and developing enterprises, new business models, and determining social, economic and environmental returns. Also he has worked closely with children in various skill development projects and enjoys working with them. He’s excited to travel, and knows - you only find out if you go there.
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Geetanjali Morabad
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Geetanjali manages ArtSparks' Creative Learning Lab (CLL) program. She plays a pivotal role in ensuring the program's operations while mobilizing and leading the CLL team of facilitators. Her role encompasses developing program strategies, recruiting facilitators, supporting facilitator professional development, implementing and promoting the CLL program across partner school sites, continuously monitoring and assessing the program to ensure quality control standards are met, and reporting on data collected and analyzed. Prior to ArtSparks, Geetanjali worked in monitoring and assessment while establishing close collaborations with school HM’s, children, and teachers, all of which have provided her with a holistic understanding of the complexities of the educational landscape. And, have instilled in her an unwavering passion and commitment to delivering quality learning experiences to children from various backgrounds.
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N Muankimi
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Muankimi’s work in education, through her domain expertise in social work, spans over 9 years, and has involved supporting initiatives that work to address the educational and developmental needs of children. Besides her past work with Govt. initiatives and other educational institutions, over the years, she has held various positions at ArtSparks—Project Coordinator, Volunteer Manager, Sr. Volunteer Manager. At present she holds the position of Partnerships & Outreach Manager, working towards establishing robust partnerships with schools, institutions, Govt. bodies, and more, ensuring that ArtSparks’ programs and products are disseminated and implemented widely, all partners are engaged effectively, and more children are impacted meaningfully.
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Nagarathna D
Training & Development Associate |
A former school teacher, Nagarathna often dreamed of an educational system where all teachers would leave behind the rote methods of teaching that she often observed, and like her, embrace more hands-on, experiential, and inquiry-based methods to facilitate deep and meaningful student learning. Her passion for alternative education, and her deep interest in the arts, led her to join ArtSparks Foundation as a Facilitator. Nagarathna’s exceptionally thoughtful work with students within her Creative Learning Lab, for the past 8 years, has won her the respect of all of ArtSparks’ Facilitators, whose development she has long been supporting. In the role of Training & Development Associate, a key aspect of her responsibilities lies in the continuous development of ArtSparks’ CLL Facilitators, identifying and filling gaps in their practice, empowering them for success, and supporting their growth. Addressing these aspects, in turn, have a profound impact on the children the facilitators engage with. Nagarathna’s work also intersects with the Professional Learning & Development Program at ArtSparks.
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Narasimharaju L
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Narasimharaju oversees the stakeholder engagement component of the Creative Learning Lab (CLL) program, building strong relationships that can help further program goals. To this end he engages routinely with teachers, HM's, CRP's, BEO's, SDMC members, parents, and donors. He also lends support to other dimensions of the CLL program, for example the professional development of facilitators, ensuring the smooth functioning of the program by developing their capacity to engage effectively with stakeholders. Prior to his work at ArtSparks, Narasimharaju worked closely with children, facilitators, teachers, and government officials to execute life skills programming at the grassroots level. Hos educational background in both the fields of education and social work have served as an impetus for all he does. In his free time, Narasimharaju enjoys farming and loves singing and performing, having participated in many theatre events.
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Nisha Nair
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Nisha Nair is an educator, education researcher, and designer who is committed to elevating the position of art and design as mediums for pedagogy and transformation, both individual and social. Her nearly two decade tenure in education, both in the US and India, has involved advancing the role of visual art and design in developing the whole child, building more inclusive learning environments, promoting the development of 21st century learning and life skills, and investing in the transformative development of teachers. It is these experiences and passions that led her to start ArtSparks Foundation. Furthermore, Nisha teaches courses in art and community engagement at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the author of Art Sparks: Ideas. Methods. Process. published by Tara Books. And, Nisha is currently a doctoral fellow pursuing scholarly research with a focus on creative practice, transformative learning, and teacher education. Prior to education, Nisha spent 8 years as a multi-award winning designer meeting the branding and design needs of diverse clients from the Smithsonian Institutions, to NASA, and more.
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Saagarika Chatterji
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Saagarika manages ArtSparks’ Professional Learning and Development Program, and is involved in planning, strategizing and implementing its various professional development offerings. This involves creating awareness about the role of art in education and broadening understanding around art and art education in children’s learning, growth and development. She organizes the annual professional development program called EdSparks Collective which is attended by different organizations and individuals across India, who further become a part of a community of practice. One of her major roles is to provide on-going support to our partner organizations throughout the year to help them get fully equipped and confident to conduct robust art interventions within their own spaces so that the potential of art can benefit more children. Prior to ArtSparks, she worked with and for children in different settings, not only as a life skills and creative activities instructor, but also engaging with teachers, educators and NGO administrators working with children. With an educational background in psychology, sociology, and social work, she is committed to working for causes related to children and their rights, as she believes they are our hope for a better future. In her free time, she likes to go on cycling expeditions and also enjoys DIY projects.
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Trustee
- Raj "R.R."
Secretary
- Salil Punoose
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