KALPANA JAIN
Cambridge
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Ethics & Religion Editor/Director of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative
The Conversation US
01.2015 - Current
- Heading the religion desk and directing a unique media partnership with the Associated Press and Religion News Service
- Teaching leading scholars to help translate complex ideas for a lay audience
- Writing articles for various news publications related to developments in global religion
- Writing on India, public health, climate change
- Conducted workshops with rural girls in India to teach them journalism.
Instructor, Research Associate, Case Writer
Harvard University
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Taught writing at Harvard Kennedy School
- Taught how to write a case study at Harvard Kennedy School
- Taught Public Narrative with Professor Marshall Ganz
- Authored a case for teaching at the Harvard Kennedy School on debt-bondage in India
- Worked as a co-researcher with HKS scholars on several publications.
India Program Director, Kaiser Health Journalism India Program
Henry J. Kaiser Foundation
01.2006 - 01.2008
- Launched the first Indian Health news publication
- Mentored reporters in several media outlets across India
- Conducted seminars/training courses for newspersons from diverse backgrounds across India.
Editor – Health: 2003 -2006
The Times of India Group
01.1992 - 01.2006
- Built a health beat by covering stories of neglect of public health systems, corruption in hospitals, emergence of new diseases, poverty and health issues
- Led coverage on public health and social justice issues across 17 editions
- Broke several stories that made international headlines
- Wrote a book detailing the ground realities of HIV/AIDS in India including stories from the field which led to several policy changes including a visit by the then President of India, Abdul Kalam, to a center mentioned in the book.
Education
Master’s Degree in Theological Studies -
Harvard Divinity School
Cambridge, MA05.2017
Master’s Degree in Public Administration -
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government
Cambridge, MA01.2011
Nieman Fellow in Global Health Reporting -
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA05.2009
Majorawards
- Member, Committee of Public Understanding of Religion, American Academy of Religion
- Fellow, East West Center, 2022-2023
- American Academy of Religion’s 2020 Award for excellence in investigative reporting
- Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting Awardee, 2019
- Awarded William A. Starr fellowship for innovative thinking in journalism at Harvard, 2010
- Awarded John Kenneth Galbraith Fellowship for outstanding academic and professional achievements at Harvard, 2010
- Selected Mason Fellow at Harvard University, 2010
- Awarded Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University, 2008
- Outstanding Public Health Journalist Award, 2000, New Delhi
Teachingandspeaking
- Teaching Fellow, Public Narrative, Harvard Kennedy School, 2011, 2013
- Teaching Fellow, Writing for Policymakers, Harvard Kennedy School, 2013
- Instructor, Case writing, Harvard Kennedy School, 2012, 2014
- Guest lecturer, Harvard Divinity School, 2018
- Guest lecturer, College of Holy Cross, 2021
- Guest lecturer, College of Holy Cross, 2023
- Panelist, Rise of Islamophobia, Berkeley Center at Georgetown University, 2022
- Public talk, From HIV/AIDS to Covid-19, University of Pennsylvania, 2021
- Guest lecturer, University of Pennsylvania, Sociology, 03/2021
- Guest lecturer, College of Holy Cross, 11/2020
- Panelist, American Academy of Religion, 11/2020
- Panelist, American Academy of Religion, 11/2023
- Guest lecturer, Harvard Divinity School, 2019
- Guest lecturer, Stanford University, 2019
- Lecturer, Times School of Journalism, 2000, 2010
Publications
- Positive Lives: The Story of Ashok and others with HIV, Penguin books, India, 2002, 978-0143028178
- Editing and writing for the Ethics & Religion page at The Conversation US
- Contributing articles for several mainstream news publications: The Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, PRI’s The World, Religion News Service, Pangyrus, Sojourner, The Chicago Tribune, Vox, Harvard Divinity Bulletin, The Wire.in, STAT, Harvard Public Health Magazine, The Times of India, Business Standard
- Harvard Kennedy School publication: Fighting Bonded Labor in Rural India: Village Activist Gyarsi Bai Tackles an Entrenched System of Coercion
- Harvard Kennedy School publication: Bujagali Energy Company and unaffordable electricity in Uganda
Websites
- https://www.csmonitor.com/text_edition/USA/Justice/2023/0221/Michael-Cox-was-beaten-by-Boston-police.-Now-he-leads-them
- https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2023/1010/Why-protecting-Indonesia-s-Indigenous-land-is-a-balancing-act
- https://religionnews.com/2022/12/08/for-indias-third-sex-acceptance-mired-in-colonial-past/
Timeline
Senior Ethics & Religion Editor/Director of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative
The Conversation US
01.2015 - Current
Instructor, Research Associate, Case Writer
Harvard University
01.2011 - 01.2014
India Program Director, Kaiser Health Journalism India Program
Henry J. Kaiser Foundation
01.2006 - 01.2008
Editor – Health: 2003 -2006
The Times of India Group
01.1992 - 01.2006
Master’s Degree in Theological Studies -
Harvard Divinity School
Master’s Degree in Public Administration -
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government
Nieman Fellow in Global Health Reporting -
Harvard University
Similar Profiles
Pablo BaezPablo Baez
Video Production Intern at Our National ConversationVideo Production Intern at Our National Conversation
Andrew PlotnickAndrew Plotnick
Group Facilitator at World In ConversationGroup Facilitator at World In Conversation
Sachi Florance (she/her)Sachi Florance (she/her)
Engagement and Research Support at Conversation CoEngagement and Research Support at Conversation Co
Ben CotterillBen Cotterill
In-house Staff at National TrustIn-house Staff at National Trust
Hannah TurnerHannah Turner
Real Estate Deals Administrator at Remax Twin City Realty Inc.Real Estate Deals Administrator at Remax Twin City Realty Inc.