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. MA - Colorado Technical University BA - University of Madras |
Anshita Chauhan
Communications and Outreach Associate |
Anshita, with 3 years of experience in the social sector, is passionate about leveraging art education to foster holistic development. As the Communications and Outreach Associate at ArtSparks Foundation, Anshita supports shaping the foundation's communications efforts and outreach strategies. She is also responsible for managing the foundation's social media presence, ensuring vibrant and engaging communication with the public. Anshita's journey includes a significant tenure as a Gandhi Fellow, where she gained hands-on experience in grassroots work, stakeholder engagement, community engagement, facilitation, and communication. This experience has enriched her ability to connect with diverse communities and drive meaningful initiatives.
At ArtSparks, her enthusiasm for art education is evident in her dedication to communicating the role of art in engaging children, fostering their creativity, and providing for robust educational opportunities. In her free time, she loves to do DIY, painting, and origami. Her creative pursuits reflect her deep-seated belief in the transformative power of the arts. Anshita's unwavering commitment to art education and continuous learning fuels her contributions to ArtSparks Foundation, making a positive impact on children from diverse backgrounds. MSW - Udaipur School of Social Work BSC - Mohanlal Sukhadia University |
N Muankimi
Partnerships & Outreach Manager |
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, CSRs, 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.
MSW - St. Joseph's College, Bangalore BSW - St. Joseph's College, Bangalore |
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, has a profound impact on the children the facilitators engage with. Nagarathna’s work also intersects with the Professional Learning & Development Program at ArtSparks. |
Narasimharaju L
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Narasimharaju oversees the 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.
MSW - Tumkur University BAKSP - Tumkur University |
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. Nisha has taught courses in art and community engagement at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is also the author of Art Sparks: Ideas. Methods. Process. published by Tara Books. 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.
Doctor of Education/EdD (expected defense - Oct. 2025) - Teachers College, Columbia University MA - Teachers College, Columbia University BFA - Savannah College of Art & Design |
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.
MSW - Christ University BA - Christ Unniversity |
Trustee
Raj "RR" is a Coach for CXOs and CEOs from diverse industrial sectors, both large Indian and MNCs. He is also a consultant to businesses on ‘HR Strategy’ and ‘Leadership and Organization Development’. He serves on the Boards of a few companies as an Independent Director. He holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Psychology from University of Kerala. An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur where he obtained his post masters’ diploma in Industrial Management, he was also trained by Tavistok School of Human Relations’ faculty in the UK in individual and group development processes. He served the Unilever Group of companies for over three decades and held several positions including as CHRO. And towards the closure of his long innings, he served as Coach for Board level leaders, and OD Advisor for HUL and Unilever’s Regional Business Group, Singapore.
While in Unilever London where he was seconded earlier in his career, he was trained by Hay Mcber as a Leadership Coach. He is an alumnus of Stanford and Michigan Universities through their management education programs. He has also served on the Academic Council of Tata Management Training Centre Pune, Lowe Lintas’s Centre for Executive Education, HR Technical Committee of Reserve Bank of India, and Confederation of Indian Industry’s National HR Council. He has actively associated himself with the HR and leadership development space in the country. He has been associated with ISB’s prestigious LSTM program as a Leadership Coach for over a decade. He was chosen by NHRD Network for the National Award for outstanding contribution to the HR function. He was also conferred the Life-Time Achievement Award by CNBC-KPMG. Coaching Foundation India, in recognition of his exemplary lifetime achievement in facilitating the growth of human potential as a Coach & mentor, admitted him as Honorary Fellow. He has co-edited a publication entitled “Managing Transition”.
While in Unilever London where he was seconded earlier in his career, he was trained by Hay Mcber as a Leadership Coach. He is an alumnus of Stanford and Michigan Universities through their management education programs. He has also served on the Academic Council of Tata Management Training Centre Pune, Lowe Lintas’s Centre for Executive Education, HR Technical Committee of Reserve Bank of India, and Confederation of Indian Industry’s National HR Council. He has actively associated himself with the HR and leadership development space in the country. He has been associated with ISB’s prestigious LSTM program as a Leadership Coach for over a decade. He was chosen by NHRD Network for the National Award for outstanding contribution to the HR function. He was also conferred the Life-Time Achievement Award by CNBC-KPMG. Coaching Foundation India, in recognition of his exemplary lifetime achievement in facilitating the growth of human potential as a Coach & mentor, admitted him as Honorary Fellow. He has co-edited a publication entitled “Managing Transition”.
Secretary
Salil Punoose
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