Meet Our Experts: Divya Krishnaswamy
I grew up in a family where education and being of service were highly valued. Although my initial career aspirations were quite different—I dreamt of becoming a veterinarian—I eventually found my calling in a field that aligned with my parents' values of service, which have always been reflected in the work I have done.
My first job was teaching English and computer science to primary school students at a school for underprivileged children in India. Seeing the circumstances that the children came from, I realised the impact that financial inclusion could have on underserved and unbanked individuals, especially on women. This led me to pursue further studies and work on projects ensuring that government disbursements, like employment guarantee programs and government pensions, reached the right individual. I learned how research can influence policy change by analysing government budget data for the water sector in Karnataka, India, to ensure public expenditure accountability. Working on a UNICEF project, I estimated how much of the allocations for children in the state's budget actually trickled down per child; the results were eye-opening and further fueled my passion for research.
At CASE, I have the opportunity to work at the intersection of my interests in data, education, and societal impact as a part of the CASE’s Insights team. I also work with our amazing volunteers who give us their valuable time, vast expertise, and unique perspective to help us keep CASE’s metrics current and relevant to everyone. For the past four years, I have served as the primary research manager and senior data analyst for the CASE Insights on Philanthropy for the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as for Australia and New Zealand.
My work at CASE includes developing and managing surveys, data cleaning, and creating visualisations and reports based on that data. At CASE Insights, we are helping institutions make more informed decisions by providing data-driven recommendations that benefit their engagement with alumni and donors and improve their overall effectiveness. Collaborating with colleagues from across the world also allows us to align global metrics, establish our common global survey and benchmarking platform, and more.
As an individual who has seen the impact of marginalisation and lack of representation in the past, I’m deeply committed to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. I strongly believe that everyone, no matter their background, deserves an equal chance to succeed. This is why I was thrilled to lead the first CASE Insights survey on DEIB in the United Kingdom. This survey was about more than just collecting data; it was about highlighting the importance of these values in the advancement sector and making a real difference.
What I love most about my role is the ability to translate data into actionable insights that directly contribute to advancing education. Hearing from members about how they use benchmarking data and insights at their own institutions to make changes and ask for higher investment in their teams is incredibly rewarding. Education is a powerful tool that can transform lives and communities, and I am honored to be part of an effort that seeks to create positive change in this sphere. By leveraging the latest technological advances, including artificial intelligence, we can help educational institutions become more efficient, effective, and equitable, thus enabling more people to access high-quality education and achieve their full potential.
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March-April Issue of Currents
DIGITAL ONLY ISSUE - Institutions are visualizing success with innovative dashboards. Plus, help for students experiencing homelessness, belonging as the corner piece of the work place puzzle, and more.