Amrita Vishwa VidyapeethamFACULTY
The Amrita MSW program has an excellent team of committed faculty who inculcate social work skills and values to students in a systematic manner. They are committed to the students' development in all aspects of their being: intellectual, emotional, spiritual, physical, creativity, service and community-orientation.
All of the faculty have advanced degrees and national experience. Many of them have international experience. They have published books and journal articles, and presented research papers at national and international forums. Some of their books are being used as MSW textbooks at US universities.
The Amrita faculty synthesize the best of what the West has to offer from Social Work with the timeless values of Indian spirituality and culture.
Full Time Faculty
Amritapuri Campus
M. M. Rajeev
Lecturer and Vice-Chair
Research Interests: Disaster Risk Reduction, Psycho Social Interventions in Disasters, Sustainable Livelihood, HIV/AIDS, Geriatric Care, Care for Children in Difficult Circumstances
Teaching Expertise: Introduction to Disasters, Hazards, Risk and Vulnerability Reduction, Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction, Standards and Approaches in Disaster Relief and Recovery, Psychosocial Care and Counselling, Guiding Principles in Social Work Practice, Understanding Human Behaviour and Social Work Practice in Physical Health Setting
E-mail: rajeevmm(at)am.amrita.edu
Dr. Renjith R. Pillai
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Family/Marital Enrichment Programmes/Interventions, Life Skills Education & School Mental Health Programs, Disaster psychosocial care interventions
Teaching Expertise: Social Work Interventions and Practice in Health Settings, Psychosocial Care in Disaster, Psychosocial Assessments and Interventions
E-mail: renjithrpillai(at)am.amrita.edu
P. K. Anand
Lecturer
Research Interests: Tribal Issues, Participatory Approaches, Ecology and Sustainable Development
Teaching Expertise: Rural Community Development, Urban Community Development, Local Self Governance
E-mail: anandpk(at)amritapuri.amrita.edu
V. S. Kochkrishna Kurup
Lecturer
Research Interests: Human Resource Management, Geriatry, School Counselling
Teaching Expertise: Human Resource, Project Management, Social Work Research, Human Growth and Development, Labour Welfare
E-mail: kochukrishnan(at)amritapuri.amrita.edu
Surya Krishna
Lecturer
Research Interests: Sustainable Development, Natural Resources Mangagement, Tribal Issues and Women Issues
Teaching Expertise: Social Change, Rural Community Development, Urban Community Development, Social Mobilization and Social Action.
E-mail: suryakrishna(at)amritapuri.amrita.edu
Sooraj P. S.
Field Work Co-ordinator
Research Interests: Social Work Practice in Psychiatric Settings, De-addiction, Child Rights and Child Protection
E-mail: soorajps(at)amritapuri.amrita.edu
Yamuna Sandrine Bonin
Research Associate
Research Interests: Sustainable Development
Teaching Expertise: Climate Change, Sustainable Development
E-mail: sandrine(at)am.amrita.edu
Coimbatore Campus
Dr. J. Paranjothi Ramalingam
Professor and Head
Research Interests: Health & Mental Health, Women Empowerment, Adolescence, Substantial Social Problems and General Social Work Practice
Teaching Expertise: Human Behavior, Social Work Research and Social Work Macro Practice
E-mail: j_paranjothi(at)cb.amrita.edu
Dr. K. R. Priya
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Social Organization and Cultural Change and Tribal Communities and Gender Studies
Teaching Expertise: Theories in Sociology, History and Philosophy of Social Work, Research Methodology, Social Policies and Administration, Disaster Management and Social Change
E-mail: kr_priya(at)cb.amrita.edu
Dr. P. Rangasami
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: NGO Management, Child Protection Child Rights, Disaster Management, HIV/AIDS and Migration
Teaching Expertise: Social Work Practice - Generalist Perspective, Disaster Management & Crisis Intervention, Human Resource Management, Social Work Research
E-mail: p_rangasami(at)cb.amrita.edu
N. Nagalingam
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: PRI, Community Participation, Trafficking, Sustainable Development
Teaching Expertise: History and Philosophy of Social Work, Social Welfare Policy, Micro Social Work Practice, Social Work Ethics, Values & Culture and Community Development
E-mail: m_naga(at)cb.amrita.edu
K. Uma Maheswari
Lecturer
Research Interests: Youth Empowerment, Rural Mental Health, Reproductive Health and Sex Education, Child Welfare
Teaching Expertise: Human Behaviour (Micro), Human Behaviour (Macro), Social Work Research (Consumerism), Health /Mental Health and Public Health
E-mail: k_uma(at)cb.amrita.edu
Visiting Social Work Practitioners
Dr. Murali D. Nair
Professor
Director, BSW Program
Co-Director, Center for Healing Across Cultures, Cleveland State University, USA
Dr. Babu Suseelan
Director of Addiction Research Institute
Pennsylvania
Dr. R. K. Hebsur
Former Deputy Director of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
Qualification: Ph. D., Political Science (USA), M. A., Political Science (University of Mumbai), M. A., Political Science (USA)
Areas of Concentration: Modernization and Inequalities, Political Violence, Backward Class Movements, Reservations in Jobs and Educational Seats, Power Structure and Social Research Methodology, and Philosophy of Science.
Mr. Pravin Patkar
Founder and Chairman, PRERANA, Mumbai
(Rtd. Associate Professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai)
Mrs. Priti Patkar
Founder Director,'Prerana', Mumbai
Awards and Recognitions: Young Achiever Award - Indo American Society 2000, 'IIM Lucknow - Laxmipat Singhania National Award for Community Service 2010', STAR Impact Award - Child Protection category 2009, Ahilya Holkar Award Govt. of Maharashtra 2010 etc.
Dr. Shobha Kapoor
Director, Mukti Sadan, Mumbai
Dr. Sujatha D. Sharma
Director, 'Parivartan'- Centre for Mental Health and Trustee and 'Rahat'-Charitable and Medical Research Trust, Consultant to UNICEF and NIPCCD
Qualification: Ph. D. (Clinical Psychology) from National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), M. Phil. (Medical & Social Psychology)
Mrs. Karthika Nair
Social Worker, Singapore
Mr. Prafulla Chandra Sali
Assistant Director, Mukti Sadan, Mumbai
Mrs. Surekha Mandevia
Medical Social Worker, Mumbai
Ms. Sophia Lawrence
Clinical Psychologist, Germany