Dr. Rushika Patel, Senior Partner at Ideas for Action, holds over 20 years of leadership experience in higher and secondary education. She excels in leveraging existing institutional data and designing new qualitative and quantitative studies to support strategic planning, organizational redesign, and cultural change. Dr. Patel’s expertise lies in drawing actionable insights and developing innovative strategies to enhance educational performance, progression, and advancement for students, faculty, and staff.
Dr. Patel conducts comprehensive assessments of institutional cultures, relationships, processes, and resources, providing valuable counsel on developing and utilizing organizational culture for total institutional advancement. As an expert communicator, facilitator, and trainer, she guides groups toward deeper mutual understanding, enhanced skills, and aligned direction with key organizational goals.
Dr. Patel is a compassionate listener and gifted facilitator for spaces of learning. She adeptly identifies opportunities for collaboration among diverse groups with varying experiences and perspectives. Her career includes steering the work and priorities of executive university leadership, directing educational centers and programs for women and minorities, leading large-scale strategic planning initiatives, and training thousands of faculty and staff to address the needs of diverse student populations.
Dr. Patel’s extensive experience spans public and private education in the U.S. and Asia, from K-12 to higher education. Her scholarly interests focus on the impact of global processes on educational cultures and outcomes, striving to sustain the promise of higher education both in the U.S. and globally.
Driven by a passion for making a difference in the lives of students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders, Dr. Patel believes that institutions of higher education are sanctuaries of knowledge, intellectual freedom, openness, and innovation. She finds profound satisfaction in working where the rigor of science meets the complexity of humanity.
Dr. Patel holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies and Organizational Leadership, an M.A. in Education, a Professional Certificate in Linguistics, and a B.A. in Sociology, English, and Psychology. She has held professional appointments at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor and Flint campuses), the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Massachusetts, and the University of North Texas, as well as institutions in Japan, Korea, and India. She has chaired and served on numerous academic and professional boards, committees, and working groups, consistently mapping opportunities for collaboration among diverse groups.
Dr. Patel’s disciplined and rigorous research approach, coupled with her extensive experience in designing and implementing educational programs, has established her as a leading figure in advancing educational access and success for economically and otherwise disadvantaged populations. Her work continues to inspire and drive positive change in the educational landscape.