Dr. Uma Maheswari Shankar is a distinguished scholar, educator, and thought leader in Indian philosophy and ethics. With a career spanning three decades in academia, she currently serves as Director of Academics at SIES and has formerly led as Principal and Head of the Department of Philosophy at SIES College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Mumbai.
She is the proud recipient of prestigious honors including the Padma Shri Nimbalkar Yoga Mitra Award (2017) and the Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Distinguished Academic Leadership Award (2023). As a Fulbright Scholar, she pursued a specialized course on Religious Pluralism at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
A prolific writer, Dr. Uma has authored over 25 publications on diverse themes such as Classical Indian Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality, the Bhagavad Gītā, Philosophy of Yoga, Bioethics, and contemporary ethical concerns. She has edited several interdisciplinary conference volumes and has organized numerous national and international academic events.
Known for her eloquence and clarity of thought, she has delivered keynote addresses and endowment lectures across India and is a regular resource person at scholarly forums. An avid reader, dedicated researcher, and visionary educationist, Dr. Uma continues to inspire generations through her deep commitment to learning and teaching.