Dr. Reema Chaudhury, currently serving as the Director of Student Life for all three campuses namely Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad & Bengaluru of Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management, boasts a remarkable career spanning over 24 years, primarily focused on educating students from diverse backgrounds in the area of Business Communication. Her expertise extends to cultivating enriching student life experiences and fostering leadership development. Dr. Reema is particularly passionate about areas like student engagement, corporate communication, and soft skills.

Throughout her professional journey, Dr. Reema has occupied significant roles in academia and administration, including positions such as Director of Student Affairs and Associate Professor at various institutions. Her exceptional skills and contributions have earned her numerous accolades and recognitions.

Dr. Reema's qualifications encompass a PhD in English and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification. Moreover, she has conducted several Management Development Programs catering to both the public and private sectors, focusing on organizational communication.

GITAM Visakhapatnam

What made you start your journey with the Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management?

I have had the privilege of working with some of the most prestigious institutions of India, both as a faculty member and as an administrator and there I learned a lot under the guidance and support of both my mentors and colleagues. And when I joined GITAM, I got the opportunity to work with a diverse and dynamic student community of around 24000 across the four campuses in Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. This not only gave me a higher level of responsibility, but also a chance to test my own limits through challenges in meeting the varied needs of the students. 

And being an educator, I want to make a positive difference in their lives by offering them opportunities to grow, connect and have fun, both in the classroom and outside it as I believe that student life is an essential part of the learning experience. So, overall, the opportunities and challenges associated with my role, diverse, engaged and empowered student community and inclusive work environment along with values and culture of the institution inspired me to join GITAM and contribute to its mission and vision.

How do you balance the needs of students and administration as a Director of student life?

As a Director of student life, balancing the needs of students and administration at the same time is like walking a tightrope for me, but I enjoy the thrill and the challenges a lot. Hence, recently I negotiated with the administration to let students have access to some extra resources and facilities on campus, after hearing their pleas and petitions. All in all, I regularly interact with and learn from both the students and administration and use collected data and evidence to guide my team to make informed decisions. And sometimes, I also feel like a diplomat or a mediator, but without the fancy suit or the travel perks. Hence I would say that my role demands a lot of empathy and compassion to listen to both sides, remain fair and impartial in addressing their issues and find suitable solutions in accordance with the goals and policies of our university.

What is the most challenging part of being a Director of student life and how do you successfully manage it?

My role here at GITAM is more or less of juggling multiple balls in the air and ensuring at the same time that none of them drop or explode. Hence, to successfully do justice with my responsibilities, I rely on a team of awesome and capable staff who share my vision and passion for student life. And hence recently I delegated the task of planning the orientation week to one of my staff members, who did a fantastic job with his work by creating a fun and engaging program for newly admitted students. Then there was another event, where I delegated specific teammates with the responsibility of organizing a talent show, and each of them did a superb performance, as evident from the applause received from students, faculty, and senior management. And to successfully plan, organize, delegate, monitor and evaluate tasks assigned to others, I use various tools and systems. Also as and when required, I seek support from my peers and mentors, afterall self-care and my own wellness are my priority. Lastly, whenever I feel exhausted or tired, I go out for a quick coffee or workout session to release all the stress. I even have a secret stash of chocolate in my office drawer.

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What are key roles and responsibilities here at GITAM?

At GITAM, I have to balance the diverse and sometimes conflicting needs and expectations of my students and their parents, faculty and staff members followed by the university administration. Apart from this, ensuring that the student life programs and services are aligned with the university’s mission and vision, supervising and monitoring the overall maintenance and improvement of the campus facilities and infrastructure, which requires careful planning, budgeting, and coordination with various departments and contractors also comes under the scope of my work. Hence, to fulfill everyone's demands in this diverse atmosphere, I rely on my leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills along with a strong team of professionals who share my passion and commitment for enhancing the student experience and creating a safe and conducive learning environment.

How can parents and professors in general support a young student during his/her student life?

I firmly believe that student life is a time of not only academic learning but also of holistic growth for a person. Hence, we all should encourage young minds to explore their own interests, strengths, passions, and potentials while helping them develop 21st century skills such as effective communication, creativity, critical thinking, leadership, emotional intelligence and social skills. And this can be achieved by acknowledging the students’ achievements and efforts, timely addressing their challenges and struggles and providing them feedback, a supportive and nurturing environment both in college and at home, so they can easily overcome those challenges, and achieve life goals. 

Apart from this, we can encourage them to join clubs or societies that match their interests and can enhance their skills and competencies. And along the way, they should be reminded to have fun because life is too short to be serious all the time. Last but not the least, we can make students' lives easier by respecting their autonomy and choices, while also setting clear expectations and boundaries. And while helping the students develop their academic, personal, and professional skills, as well as their values and ethics, we should also expose them to various opportunities and experiences that can enrich their learning and growth.

How do you ensure an inclusive environment and vibrant student community on campus?

I implement various initiatives and strategies from time to time to promote an atmosphere of diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus. And my very first approach is that I regularly organize cultural events and activities to celebrate the different nationalities and cultures of our students. 

Apart from this, intercultural dialogues and exchange programs foster mutual understanding and respect among the students coming from different backgrounds and perspectives. Lastly, I provide training to students on topics such as cultural competence, anti-discrimination, anti-racism and anti-bullying etc. on a regular basis. All in all, my entire team and I always ensure that the student life policies and practices are fair and inclusive for all regardless of their identity or status.

As a Director, what is your vision for GITAM for the coming years?

Being the Director at GITAM, my only vision for the institution is to create a vibrant and dynamic community that enhances the holistic development of our students on campus. Other than this, we want to make GITAM a place where students can discover their true potential, by providing them with a variety of programs and services to cater to their academic, social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and career needs. We also aspire to create a culture of excellence, innovation, collaboration, and engagement among the students while empowering them to become active learners, amazing leaders, responsible citizens, and change makers in their respective fields, communities, and countries.