Rishihood University Appoints Education Leader Gayatree Anand as Director of the Mahesh Navani School of Brain, Body & Behavior

Gayatree began her journey in education as a Teach For India Fellow, teaching in an under-resourced government school in Delhi. This early classroom experience shaped her understanding of the opportunities and challenges within India’s education system and laid the foundation for her work in transforming learning at scale.

She later earned a Master’s in Education from Columbia University, New York, where she deepened her expertise in education policy, learning sciences, and institutional development. Her academic experience complemented years of practical work within Indian classrooms and education systems, enabling her to bridge research with real-world implementation.

Over the years, Gayatree has held leadership roles across India and the United States. At ARK, she contributed to the development and expansion of a school quality assessment framework that reached more than 20,000 schools. She subsequently worked with the Government of Delhi, supporting education reforms that impacted nearly 800,000 students across over 1,000 government schools. At Teach For America, she contributed to learning innovation and organisational expansion, and most recently in New York, she led large-scale learning and coaching programmes preparing young professionals for corporate careers while managing an ecosystem of more than 100 industry experts and coaches.

At Rishihood University, Gayatree Anand will lead the next phase of growth for the Mahesh Navani School of Brain, Body & Behavior (MaNaS). Her mandate includes strengthening the school’s academic and research ecosystem, expanding national and international collaborations, building strategic partnerships, advancing interdisciplinary research, and driving institutional development to position MaNaS as a leading centre for the study of the brain, human behaviour, mental well-being, and human flourishing.

Commenting on her appointment, Gayatree Anand, Director, Mahesh Navani School of Brain, Body & Behavior, Rishihood University, said: “After several years of working across education in India and the US, I’m excited to join Rishihood University as Director of MaNaS. There is something powerful about bringing back what we have learned and experienced in different parts of the world and applying it in India, and I have always wanted to build institutions that help people not just learn, but truly flourish. That is a big part of what drew me to Rishihood University. In many ways, this move feels like coming full circle, and I’m excited for this new chapter.”

Welcoming her to the University, Sahil Aggarwal, Co-Founder & CEO of Rishihood University, said: “Gayatree brings a rare combination of classroom experience, systems thinking, institutional leadership, and global perspective. Her work has consistently focused on creating meaningful learning experiences while building organisations capable of delivering impact at scale. As Director of MaNaS, she will play a pivotal role in shaping the school’s growth as a centre for interdisciplinary research, education, and innovation focused on human flourishing.”

The Mahesh Navani School of Brain, Body & Behavior represents Rishihood University’s vision of integrating neuroscience, psychology, education, behavioural sciences, and well-being to develop leaders equipped to address some of the most pressing human challenges of the 21st century. Under Gayatree Anand’s leadership, the School aims to deepen its research capabilities, expand industry and academic collaborations, and create transformative learning experiences that connect science with societal impact.

About Rishihood University:

Founded by IITians and trusted by Nobel Laureates, Padma Shri Awardees and Policymakers, Rishihood University is reimagining higher education as a force for national transformation. It shapes learners for personal growth, professional excellence, and public impact in an industry-integrated, values-first learning environment. With an interdisciplinary approach that integrates technology, entrepreneurship, design, mental wellness, and public policy; Rishihood aims to create a new generation of conscious professionals.

If you object to the content of this press release, please notify us at pr.error.rectification@gmail.com. We will respond and rectify the situation within 24 hours.