Dr. Kakali Bhattacharya Email & Phone Number

Gainesville, Fl, Us

Gainesville, Florida, United States

As a Full Professor at UF, I lead transformative research and teaching in educational research, with a focus on culturally congruent, decolonizing qualitative methodologies that have applications across education, humanities, social sciences, public health, and medical education. I mentor interdisciplinary scholars, faculty, and students, guiding them in award-winning research that promotes equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices across fields.Throughout my career, my leadership has been marked by data-driven impact, inclusive community building, and a commitment to DEI. In 2019, I created a proprietary DEI framework, which has since been adopted by over 30 scholars to foster inclusive research, practice, and publication. Additionally, as the Founder and CEO of the Qualitative Research in Education (QRE) Global Community, I established a DEI-centric network that has grown to nearly 9,000 members across 28 countries. This community reflects my dedication to fostering empowerment, engagement, and growth among students, faculty, and researchers.Recognized for excellence in my field, I have been honored with awards such as the Egon G. Guba Award for Outstanding Contributions to Qualitative Research, AERA Division D Significant Contribution Award, Distinguished Scholar Award in Qualitative Research from the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the Legacy Award from the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (ICQI), and the Distinguished Faculty Mentor Award. I am also a sought-after keynote speaker and global workshop leader, delivering over 275 DEI-focused panels and workshops worldwide to enhance inclusivity and representation through strategic, impactful programs.Through various leadership positions, I have shaped strategic directions that foster inclusive practices, enhance faculty and students' professional development opportunities, and build supportive networks for scholars across disciplines via shared governance.

Virtual

Founded and lead an award-winning, DEI-centric online community of nearly 9,000 members across 28 countries. Through strategic planning, I increased participation by 30% and engagement by 80%, fostering an empowering network for students, faculty, and researchers in qualitative research. Developed a proprietary DEI framework in 2019, adopted by over 30 members to support inclusive research, practice, and publication. Organized and led over 275 DEI-focused panels, workshops, and webinars, bringing together interdisciplinary participants to promote culturally responsive research and address social determinants of health (physical and psychological).

Virtual

As Associate Director at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, I collaborate with senior leaders to shape the organization’s implementation of policies, inclusive and equity-driven practices, and the professional development of scholars. Since 2005, I have grown from a participant in this organization to progressive leadership roles. I have hosted workshops, mentoring sessions, and instructional innovations. Over the years, I have mentored approximately 150 interdisciplinary scholars—including those in public health and medical education—helping them conduct culturally responsive research that has achieved national and international recognition. Leveraging my advocacy and organizational role, I have increased the diversity of scholarship and the presence of historically underrepresented scholars within the organization, while promoting cultural responsiveness and equity in qualitative research worldwide.

Dr. Kakali Bhattacharya Coaching offers tailored coaching and consulting services focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), leadership development, qualitative research guidance, mindfulness-based coaching, faculty development, and academic success. My work supports professionals, faculty, and students in developing inclusive, culturally responsive practices, while also fostering leadership capabilities and career growth. Key services include:-Executive and Leadership Coaching: Guiding leaders to build resilient, inclusive teams through mindfulness-based and empowerment-driven coaching practices.- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy: Assisting organizations and individuals in creating equitable policies, addressing cultural competency, and embedding DEI values into their work.- Qualitative Research and Academic Writing Support: Helping scholars refine their qualitative research methods and improve academic writing and publishing outcomes.- Career Development and Mentorship: Offering one-on-one coaching for faculty, graduate students, and academic-adjacent professionals to support professional development, career transitions, and growth.- Organizational Change Management: Consulting on effective strategies for change management, facilitating inclusive organizational cultures, and enhancing team cohesion.- Content Strategy and Thought Leadership: Assisting clients with public speaking, team building, and developing impactful content strategies that align with their personal and professional goals.Through customized programs, workshops, and individual sessions, I empower clients to reach their potential in both personal and professional realms. My approach integrates mindful coaching techniques with practical, actionable steps, enabling sustainable growth and resilience across diverse fields.

Florida, United States

Provide consulting services focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategy and leadership development for academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and corporate clients. Collaborate with leaders to create inclusive policies, drive organizational change, and develop culturally responsive practices. Deliver executive coaching to senior leaders, enhancing their skills in equitable decision-making, team-building, and conflict resolution. Facilitate workshops and training sessions to foster understanding of DEI principles and cultivate a workplace culture that prioritizes belonging and engagement.

Florida, United States

Specialize in academic coaching for qualitative research, supporting faculty, graduate students, and academic professionals in advancing their research projects and scholarly writing. Guide clients in designing rigorous qualitative studies, crafting impactful narratives, and navigating the publishing process. Offer personalized coaching in academic career development, empowering scholars to strengthen their research portfolios, secure publications, and build meaningful, data-driven contributions to their fields. Facilitate workshops on research methodologies, narrative writing, and the ethical integration of DEI in scholarly work.

This program includes self-paced guided modules with synchronous feedback to enhance their skills in qualitative research, career planning, work-life balance, and passion and purpose-driven productivity. The program includes skill enhancement in a specific area of qualitative research, writing, and publication, along with strategies for increasing the visibility of one’s scholarly work, dealing with inner critic, deficit narratives, and cultivating a scholarly voice.

I help executives in any profession cultivate a refreshed purpose and passion with strategic planning of their career path. I utilize mindfulness-based practices for identifying one's purpose for life and their career and barriers that need to be neutralized in order to optimize an aligned strategic plan.

I help people follow their passions and purpose-driven paths to shine in their work, coming from a place of wholeness.

In this live 8-week group coaching with Dr. Bhattacharya, you will complete a writing project. You will create a timeline, accountability, and drafts for submission and feedback every other week. Weekly meetings will alternate between rich feedback on your writing and customized workshops related to writing that would align with a professional development skill identified by the learners.

Various

Editorial roles with both Taylor & Francis and the University of California Press in advancing DEI and qualitative research scholarship.Book Series Editor, Futures of Data Analysis and Qualitative Research (Taylor & Francis): Curate and oversee innovative volumes that address equity, cultural competence, and inclusive research methodologies within qualitative inquiry.Editor, Departures in Critical Qualitative Research (University of California Press): Lead editorial initiatives, guiding scholarship that disrupts traditional methodologies and foregrounds race, gender, and intersectionality in critical research.

Various

As an Executive Council Member with AESA, I collaborated with senior leaders and stakeholders to develop policies and implement DEI-focused initiatives across the organization. I played a key role in community building and engagement, fostering inclusive spaces for scholars to connect and advance equity-driven research. I contributed to strategic vision planning that aligned the organization’s goals with DEI and social justice principles. Through mentoring and collaborative leadership, I supported program development and governance, driving initiatives that addressed race, gender, and intersectional structures of inequity in education. My work strengthened AESA’s mission to promote culturally competent and inclusive educational research.

Various

As Executive Council Member and Executive Chair of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), I provided strategic leadership across over 150 SIGs and collaborated with Division Presidents and Vice Presidents within AERA’s 12 divisions. In my role as Executive Chair, I ensured policy compliance and drove DEI-integrated programming for SIGs, fostering equity-focused educational research practices. On the Executive Council, I worked alongside other senior leaders to shape policy reforms, establish governance standards, and enhance inclusivity across AERA’s diverse membership. Additionally, I mentored SIG leaders, guiding them in developing innovative DEI-driven initiatives that amplified diverse voices and advanced the field of educational research globally.

Corpus Christi, Texas

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Instructional Design Technology, Research, Evaluation, And Measurement, Qualitative Research, 4.0 Gpa

I became a qualitative methodologist, with extensive background in instructional design and technology. My focus had been.

Masters Of Science, Instructional Design, Curriculum And Instruction, 4.0 Gpa

Human Resources - Post Graduate Diploma, Human Resources, Training And Development, A

Human Resources Post Graduate Diploma. My area of special interest was training and development.

Bachelor Of Science - Psychology, Psychology, Religious Studies, Math, Biochemistry