Shruti Desai

Shruti Desai is a higher education and nonprofit leader focused on building strong organizations through relationships, strategy, and a belief that belonging is essential infrastructure. As Director of University Programs at the Pulitzer Center, she helps develop partnerships that connect students, educators, and institutions to global journalism, storytelling, and civic engagement.

Previously, she served as Chief of Staff at The Hunt Institute and Associate Vice President for Student Engagement at Duke University, where she led work spanning operations, strategy, culture, student engagement, and organizational effectiveness. Across her career, she has focused on helping mission-driven organizations navigate change with both accountability and humanity. She also served in leadership roles with NASPA and co-authored Identity-Conscious Supervision in Student Affairs: Building Relationships & Transforming Institutions.