Varshini Balaji Email & Phone Number

United States

Asheville, North Carolina, Us

-Conducting ethnographic interviews with counselors, financial aid professionals, students, and parents to understand the problem spaces and identify opportunities areas in the FAFSA application process-Developing research materials and assets about FAFSA application process for students in ‘special circumstances’ (students living in temporary housing, those who are new to the country, undocumented students)-Collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of designers and UX researchers to develop guidebooks and supporting materials in preparation for the 2023 FAFSA launch

New York, Ny, Us

-Employing community based participatory design and systems-oriented approaches to develop a sustainable venture with a focus on creating social value -Collaborating with cohort members on projects that address unmet social needs by employing interdisciplinary approaches and leveraging multimedia forms of communication

New York, Ny, Us

-Co-authored the second edition of the book, How To Be An Inclusive Leader, with Karen Dahms and Jennifer Brown-Wrote and developed resource guides on the history and ongoing challenges experienced by underinvested communities to generate awareness during cultural heritage months (Black History Month, Native American Heritage Month, Juneteenth etc.)-Developed thought leadership and writing articles around current diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) topics such as anti-bias hiring practices, equity in the hybrid workplace, embedding accountability in organizational cultures, etc.-Analyzed data to develop a benchmarking tool and framework that organizations can use to assess and evaluate their own DEI efforts

Seattle, Wa, Us

-Designed facilitation content and developed front end user experience using virtual collaboration tools such as Miro for public workshops about reimagining remote working challenges and redesigning the future of work using human centered design concepts and methods-Performed deep dive literature reviews and case study analysis of design thinking tools to develop content for a series of 10 workshops with a client to help redesign their single use cup to minimize waste and ensure carbon circularity-Developed customized content for design thinking workshops and co-facilitated meetings with clients -Conceptualized, storyboarded, scripted, and designed a video about the value of anthropological thinking in consumer and design research -Performed qualitative customer and user experience research by applying anthropological frameworks to create survey and interview tools -Conducted interviews with customers and analyzed interview data by thematically coding to gain insights about customer motivations, values, and perceptions to improve Mindhatch’s products-Developed thought leadership by writing insight articles for Mindhatch's blog on topics such as the value of an abundance mindset in innovation, strategies to build an equitable workplace, and foundational concepts of design thinking

Ann Arbor, Michigan, Us

-Participated in a fully funded summer research program conducted by Rackham Graduate School at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor -Worked closely with a faculty mentor to develop a graduate research project in the fields of Anthropology and Comparative Literature

Indianapolis, Indiana, Us

-Developed Institutional Review Board (IRB) compliant research instruments (survey and interview) to gather data about skills, abilities, and lessons gained by former students in the Social Justice Education program-Conducted ethnographic interviews with 8 former students in the program -Transcribed, thematically coded, and translated data into key insights -Communicated findings in a report that informed the structure of the program and student recruitment process in the subsequent years

Indianapolis, Indiana, Us

-Consulted over 200 writers on their professional and personal writing and supported them in developing confidence as writers-Engaged in research projects focused on writing center pedagogies and developed assessment tools to analyze the writing center leadership -Co-authored and co-designed a publication project that was awarded a grant by the International Writing Centers Association

Indianapolis, In, Us

-Conducted an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved study with Dr. Marilee Brooks-Gillies titled "Impact of Colonialism on Regional Languages and the Dominance of the English Language: India as a Case Study"-Performed qualitative and quantitative analysis focused on understanding student perceptions of English language dominance and its relationship with colonialism through a survey and ethnographic interviews-Presented research findings at 9 regional and national academic conferences

Indianapolis, In, Us

-Facilitated open forum discussions with students, staff, and faculty on topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion through monthly events called Pass the Mic and RealTalk-Conducted research, designed, and developed resource guides for each event-Planned, organized, managed, and marketed events by coordinating with different stakeholders (marketing coordinator, staff, guest speakers, and community members)-Assisted with planning, programming, and facilitation of Tunnel of Oppression and Social Justice Symposium: programs which were designed to engage students and faculty on sociopolitical issues communicated through multimodal forms including video, film, poetry, and theater

Indianapolis, Indiana, Us

-Developed an equity-based grant making framework that streamlined the grant impact evaluation process by collecting beneficiary specific data to guide effective grant allocation in the consequent years-Assisted the Foundation with strategic planning by identifying urgent and immediate focus areas to implement health and education based interventions that benefit low income communities in the Greater Indianapolis area-Supported the program team with the creation of grant agreement letters, board meeting materials, and Social Media content

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Anthropology Honors (Highest Distinction); Minors In Economics And Public And Professional Writing

Master Of Arts - Ma, Anthropology