Gauri A. Pitale she/her
Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Phone: 309-794-7602
- Email: gauripitale@augustana.edu
- Office: Bahls CLC 101
Dr. Gauri A. Pitale is dedicated to cultivating a sense of belonging among all members of the Augustana community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners. Dr. Pitale joined Augustana in February 2024, following her role as associate dean of students for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Bridgewater College.
With more than a decade of teaching experience, Dr. Pitale has extensive expertise in DEI programming and advising student clubs and organizations. She previously served as an assistant professor in the Department of Life Sciences at Ivy Tech Community College, where she taught biology and physiology courses.
In her previous positions, Dr. Pitale chaired Bridgewater College's Intercultural Advisory Council and was a member of the Teacher Education Program DEI Committee. As part of the Student Success and Retention Team at SIU, she contributed to a 30% increase in the retention of underrepresented students over two years.
"I am inspired to create spaces where every individual feels seen, heard, and valued — celebrating the rich tapestry of our diverse community." — Dr. Gauri A. Pitale
Recent initiatives:
- Facilitated trainings on "What is implicit bias and why does it matter," inclusive leadership, understanding differences, LGBTQ+ awareness and "the model minority myth"
- Active member of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE), the Asiatic Society of Mumbai and the Society of South Asian Archaeology
- Dr. Gauri A. Pitale selected as Augustana's vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion
- Augustana College Bias Education and Support Team
More than a leader
Gallup strengths: Input, Learner, Individualization, Empathy, Connectedness
Dr. Pitale was born in Thane, India, and lived there until 2008 when she moved to the United States to pursue her doctoral degree. She is married and has a young daughter. Dr. Pitale's passions include reading fantasy fiction, watching Bollywood movies, cooking elaborate meals and exploring the art of embroidery.
Specializations: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Education
- Ph.D., Medical Anthropology, Southern Illinois University
- M.A., Biological Anthropology, Southern Illinois University
- M.A., Ancient Indian Culture, History, and Archaeology, Deccan College (Deemed University)
- B.A., Ancient Indian Culture, St. Xavier's College (University of Mumbai)