Dr. Soma Chakrabarti, director of continuing studies at the University of Delaware’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies (UD PCS), will serve as the chair-elect of the network senate for the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) starting March 24.

UPCEA serves more than 400 institutions and provides them with specialty conferences and seminars, research and benchmarking information, and timely publications on professional, continuing and online education for post-secondary adult learners. The seven networks of UPCEA provide professional development and networking opportunities to members that have similar professional interests, such as online administration, program innovation, international education, etc.

Prior to her position as 2017-18 chair-elect of the network senate, Dr. Chakrabarti served as the chair of UPCEA’s international network. As chair-elect of the network senate, she will assist the 2017-18 network senate chair in ensuring that all seven networks are working towards the benefit of UPCEA’s members and that they are working together to achieve UPCEA’s vision.

Dr. Chakrabarti says the position will give her an opportunity to see continuing education in a very holistic way and will enable her to assist others in their professional and organizational growth.

She is grateful that the University of Delaware has given her the opportunity to be involved with organizations like UPCEA and recognizes the benefits the University receives in return.

In addition to her position with UPCEA, Dr. Chakrabarti also serves as the president of the International Association for Continuing Engineering Education (IACEE) and previously directed the Continuing Professional Development Division Board of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).

“The University of Delaware has been extremely kind to give me these opportunities to interact with continuing education leaders within and outside the country,” says Dr. Chakrabarti. “Serving in UPCEA, IACEE and ASEE boards has allowed me to bring back to UD the knowledge and expertise from others around the world that I have gained through these professional connections and positions.”

Dr. Chakrabarti has been the director of continuing studies at UD PCS since 2014. Earlier, she directed the Center for Engineering and Interdisciplinary Professional Education at the University of Kansas Continuing Education Division and was an associate director of the Division.

Dr. Chakrabarti holds a doctorate degree in biochemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.