Academic Governance
International Academic Advisory Board
Renowned scholars advise BRC’s leadership on curriculum, research, and faculty—ensuring rigor across philosophy, humanities, history, and the social sciences.
Guided by Global Minds, Rooted in Timeless Knowledge
At the Bhaktivedanta Research Center, we are honored to receive the wisdom and support of distinguished scholars from across the world. Our International Academic Advisory Board (AAB) brings together expertise in philosophy, humanities, history, and social sciences—ensuring that our work is both academically rigorous and globally relevant.
The AAB plays a pivotal role in shaping our vision by guiding the Board of Management, the Director, and research teams on curriculum design, academic delivery, and innovative research projects. Beyond this, the board advises on faculty recruitment, evaluation, and retention, helping us uphold the highest standards of scholarship.
With their guidance, BRC continues to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary research, making knowledge accessible, credible, and enduring.
(Member names listed below are subject to approval by the concerned authorities.)
Meet the Minds Behind Our Mission
Our Esteemed Scholars & Advisors
Dr. Ferdinando Sardella (Chair)
Associate Professor
Department of Ethnology, History of Religion and Gender Studies
Stockholm University
Frescativagen llE, 114 19 Stockholm, Sweden
ferdinado.sardella@rel.su.se
sardella.brc@gmail.com
Dr. MÅns Broo
Associate Professor
Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology
Åbo Akademi, Finland
mans.broo@abo.if
Dr. Christopher Chapple
Professor & Director
Indic and Comparative Theology and Master of Arts in Yoga Studies
Loyola Marymount University
Dr, Los Angeles, CS 90045, USA
cchapple@lmu.edu
Dr. Gopal Gupta
Associate Professor
Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
University of Evansville
1800 Lincoln Ave, Evansille, IN 47722, USA
gg91@evansville.edu
Dr. Ravi Gupta
Associate Professor
Charles Redd Chair of Religious Studies
Department of History
Utah State University
710 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322, USA
ravi.gupta@usu.edu
Dr. David Habermana
Professor
Department of Religious Studies
Indiana University
107 S Indiana Ave, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
dhaberma@indiana.edu
Dr. Kiyokazu Okita
Associate Professor
Literature, Philosophy and Religion
Sophia University
7-1 Kioicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan
k-okita@sophia.ac.jp
Dr. Graham Schweig
Professor
Christopher Newport University, Virginia
Distinguished Teaching & Research Faculty
Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA, USA
gschweig@cnu.edu
Dr. Rita Sherma
Professor & Director
Center for Dharma Studies
Graduate Theological Union
2465 Le Conte Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA
rsherma@gtu.edu
Dr. Kenneth Valpey
Research Fellow
Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies
University of Oxford
Magdalen Street, Oxford OX13AE, UK
kvalpey@gmail.com
Dr. Lucian Wong
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies
University of Oxford
Magdalen Street, Oxford OX13AE, UK
lucian@ochs.org.uk
Dr. Amiya Sen
Retired Professor
Department of History
Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi
Dr. Santanu Dey
Associate Professor
Department of History
Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, Belur Math
G.T. Road, PO Belurmath
Howrah, WestBengal-711202
santanudeys@gmail.com
Dr. Himani Chaukar
Head
Department of Philosophy and Psychology,
Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai
Dr. Abhishek Bose
Former Head, Assistant Professor
Department of Comparative Indian Language and Literature
Calcutta University
87/1, College Street, Kolkata 700073
abhishekb.post@gmail.com
Dr. Shakuntala Gawde
Head
Department of Sanskrit
University of Mumbai