Dr Sangeeta Dhamdhere Rao has bagged Outstanding Women Leadership Award

Dr Sangeeta Dhamdhere Rao has bagged Outstanding Women Leadership Award

• October 04, 2021

Dr Sangeeta Dhamdhere-Rao: An Inspirational Women Leader

Knowledge is power and it is coded in millions of books, journals, manuscripts, online/electronic forms and deeply embedded in the human brain.  Retrieving this knowledge and making it available to the right person within the right time frame is the ultimate target of all Information Management technologies and practices. Dr Sangeeta Dhamdhere-Rao is wholly committed to this uplifting task. 

Dr Sangeeta is a dynamic Library professional from India having more than 20 years of experience in Library and Information Science. She has been instrumental in installing top-class Library and Information management practices in a number of places and in her current role as the Director, Knowledge Resource Centre of Progressive Educational Society’s Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Ganeshkhind in Pune (India). She constantly strives to find and optimize newer and newer ways of segregating and delivering information to her users with the help of technology.

Dr Sangeeta is a wife of a well-known Cardiologist, a proud daughter and a loving sister.  Her life has always been very colourful just like M &M’s. But with her sincerity, hard work and consistent efforts to excel in life, she is continuously progressing in all walks of life.

She hails from a middle class family and is a first generation learner. Since childhood she has faced many challenges and difficulties in life. In 1988, when she was studying in 8th standard her father met with an accident and was paralysed for which he was operated on numerous times. Her father was a strong and ideal man for her, who fought his health issues very strongly and passed away in 2018 due to Cancer. Her mother is a very pious, loving and caring lady who took all the responsibility of the whole family. Her parents are always an inspiration for her and they always motivated and supported her for her studies and therefore since childhood Dr. Sangeeta has been a responsible child and she always gave justice to her parent’s faith. She is always blessed to have love, care and support from her family. She stood first in her school and for Bachelors and Masters Course also she was one of the toppers in the Savitribai Phule Pune University, India. 

After completing her B.Sc. (Chemistry) and Bachelors in Library and Information Science, she completed her Masters in Library and Information Science from University of Pune. She has cleared both the National and State level Eligibility Tests for Lecturership in Library and Information Science in very first attempt (success rate of this exam is only 1%). She has also picked up a couple of computing PG diplomas like ADCSSAA. She has got Scholarship for International training Programme on "Scientific and Technological Information Management in Universities and Libraries" Sponsored by the Belgium Government and Vrije University, Brussels, Belgium in 2008 and again for three weeks workshop on E-Discovery Tools in December 2015 at Antwerp University, Belgium. She has completed her PhD in Library and Information Science at RTM Nagpur University in July 2018 and recipient of few prestigious awards in academic field at National and International level like ALISE Travel Diversity Award, USA, Young Scientist Award, Global Librarians Award, Asian Education Award, Global Achievers International Award, Nobel Laureate Jane Addams Inspiring Women of the year, Women Excellence Award for her outstanding contribution in the Library and Information Science and Higher Education fields.

She has very good experience of library automation and digital library software systems. She has guided many bachelor and masters students for library related projects and is an active member of various library communities and various associations. She is always a motivator and an inspiration to the library science community in India. She has completed two research projects sponsored by BIREME, UNESCO and Antwerp University and one sponsored by Savitribai Phule Pune University.

She has published and presented more than 55 research publications at national and International level in conferences, seminars and reputed peer reviewed journals and edited three books and one seminar proceeding named  “Cloud Computing and Virtualization Technologies in Libraries'', "E-Discovery tools and applications in modern libraries" and "Big Data Applications for improving library services" published by IGI Global, USA. She is also author of two books “Knowledge Management in Indian Higher Education System: Strategies, Processes and Planning'', published by Lap Lambert Publishing, Germany and " Web-based services: a transforming revolution in modern libraries" by Ess Ess Publication, New Delhi. She is Chief Editor of "Granthavedh '' Library e-Newsletter and editorial board member and reviewer of about 14 reputed peer reviewed International Journals in Library Science & Computer Science and "Aakanksha" Annual magazine of her college.  She has travelled to many countries like the USA (Harvard University, New York, MIT, and Library of Congress), Europe (Antwerp, Vrije and Ghent Universities), Japan (National Institute of Informatics, Tokyo, and Sapporo), China (University of Hong Kong), UAE (Birla Institute) etc. on academic assignments and to present papers. She has been invited to deliver lectures and conduct training/workshops at national and international level.

Presently she is editing a book on Assistive technology for differently abled students published by IGI Global, USA and would like to pursue her postdoctoral and undertake research projects. Her Knowledge Resource Centre is one of the vibrant learning units in her college. Her library is the first library in Pune city to start a digital library, library blog and publish e-Newsletter. She also promotes use of open source softwares and new ways of accessing information using new technologies. She always conducts various activities for college readers to inculcate reading habits among the students like book exhibitions, guest lectures, storytelling sessions, information literacy programs, seminars, poster competitions, games, book review competitions, library tour, and celebration of various national days and birth anniversaries of eminent personalities along with new innovative activities. She has taken an initiative to set up a computer training centre for differently abled students. She also promotes her teachers for collaborative publication and research and believes in providing world class library services to her readers. She is a member of different committees and an elected member (teacher representative) of the college development committee (CDC) at her college. 

She is a pioneer in introducing new concepts and technologies in her field in India. She has conducted workshops and seminars on new technologies in libraries for LIS professionals. 

Apart from her academics and job, whenever she gets a chance to serve, she actively participates in social causes, environmental, animal protection and health issues. She is a CSR coordinator of Hridhayam Heart Clinic, Nashik. She is an ardent yoga practitioner and passionate pet lover. She served as a Secretary of her residential society too. She is associated with Chinmaya Mission worldwide spiritual organization for more than 20years and recently joined Lions Club. She is a lifelong learner and teacher. In her life, she has met some brilliant teachers - who not only were subject-matter experts in their own areas, but also lived the teacher-student relationship to the fullest extent and inspired her life. 

The prestigious “Outstanding Women Leadership Award” at International level is one more feather in her cap along with her earlier prestigious awards. It's a proud moment for her to receive this award. Thanks to the Women Icon Award committee and World Women Council for considering and appreciating her contribution and dedication to her field and society.  She would like to dedicate this award to her beloved parents who always supported and encouraged her to achieve many things in life and taught to face all the challenges in life and move ahead gracefully.