2024 Writers in Residence

Chandrika received her doctorate from the University of Oxford and is a professor of modern history at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Her research interests encompass modern British history with a focus on imperialism and decolonization, the monarchy, media, and popular culture; modern South Asia – politics, society, and culture; and global history with a focus on international communications and international media networks.

She has published widely in these areas and contributed to national and international programs on television, radio, newspapers, and podcasts. She is passionate about the importance of historical knowledge, the role of education, and multicultural dialogue, for facilitating solutions to contemporary issues in politics, society, and culture. She loves to travel (though it's mostly vicariously through travel programs in recent years!), photography, and dabbles (badly!) in pottery in her spare time. 

Angga, originally from Indonesia, is a young professional working at the United Nations in New York. He specializes in the intricate nexus of youth engagement, sustainable development diplomacy, and UN system-wide coordination and accountability. 

During his residency, Angga's primary focus will be addressing generational divides through meaningful dialogues. He aims to craft an interactive book about the importance of intergenerational dialogue complemented by an interactive card game. This multifaceted initiative is dedicated to championing profound discussions between generations, especially in a world where societal and technological advancements are creating ever-widening divides. Furthermore, his initiative is expected to explore the opportunity to provide a comprehensive toolkit that includes both theoretical foundations and practical tools designed to facilitate dialogues among diverse age groups. 

Ben is the author of The Career Arts: Making the Most of College, Credentials, and Connections (Princeton University Press, November 2023). He hosts the Higher Ed Spotlight podcast and is a visiting scholar at the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development. His decades of experience in journalism and education policy include leadership and research roles at Strada Education Network, the Brookings Institution, the Kauffman Foundation, and US News & World Report. 

He is the award-winning author of The Great Brain Race and coeditor of Reinventing Higher Education and Measuring Success. He has had bylines in many national magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, Foreign Policy, and the Washington Post.  

He has been a speaker on higher education globalization, degree value, and innovation in 16 US states and 10 foreign countries, including events at Google, Harvard, the World Bank, the OECD in Paris, and the London School of Economics. He is a past blogger for the Chronicle of Higher Education and Education Sector.