Archana Shekara (She/hER)
Archana Shekara is a Professor of Graphic Design, Co-director of Ethnic Studies, and Creative Director of Design Streak Studio, a research-based social innovation lab focusing on human-centered service design at Illinois state University. She serves as the Coordinator of the Graphic Design program partnership with Wonsook Kim School of Art and Tianhua College of Art + Design at Shanghai Normal University. She has served as a graduate thesis advisor for Heron School of Art and Design at Indianapolis; she has reviewed several graphic design tenure and promotion dossiers for various universities, and conducts community building workshops based on equity, diversity, and inclusion. As a socio-cultural researcher and designer, she investigates transnational identity by understanding racial equity through a brown lens, and creates cultural awareness using auto-ethnographic narratives. Her research interests include design pedagogy related to cross-cultural awareness and identity, social justice, and community engagement. Shekara’s innovative teaching and research have been featured in peer-reviewed national and international academic and professional publications and conferences. She has participated in international peer-reviewed graphic design research residencies and has an active studio and gallery practice. Shekara received an MFA in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a BFA in Painting from the State University of New York in New Paltz.