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spent an additional six months at Cambridge and has a Venda, of ‘Fourth Wave Foundation’, an NGO for Protecting
CELTA from Cambridge University. In 2014, she undertook children against substance abuses and ‘Disha’, an NGO for
an Intensive course in Science Fiction Studies and Creative protecting the Rights of the Marginalised. She has been
Writing in the US. Behind this successful woman, stands part of research collaborations with the Kerala Higher
a supportive man. Education Council, the Kerala State Council for Science,
Technology and Environment, and London Metropolitan
She also describes her children as her greatest blessing
– Appu or Aditya and Pappi or Amrita, both doctors of University.
immense dedication, are rooted, focused and hard- The recognition for her work has been at the International
working. However, she admits that it is her daughter-in- level – she was invited to present a paper at the House of
law, Aarathi that holds the first place in her heart – over Lords, in a program organised by the ISDC and the British
and above her own children. “I fell in love with her the High Commission in 2017. She was invited as a special
moment I saw her” she says, a sentiment that is as rare delegate by the British High Commission as part of the
as it is heartening to witness. With Babuettan’s beautiful, Delegation to visit Skill based Universities and Colleges in
gentle, and genial mother who has been a part of her life UK, Scotland, and Wales in 2018. She was special invitee
since the age of 19, they make the quintessential close- at the United Nations, New York for a conference on United
knit family. Nations Academic Initiatives in 2015. She established the
Gunn Centre for the Study of Science fiction, an affiliated
At the professional level, as a member of the faculty at
St. Teresa’s College, she has held manifold posts – Head branch of the State Kansas University in 2014. She was
of the Department of English, Dean of Research and a special invitee of the British Council, South India for a
TRACC coordinator, Governing Council Member, Editor seminar on Education in the UK. She received a Fellowship
and co-founder of Teresian Journal of English Studies, to Visit Deakin University Melbourne as the Guest of
and a Research guide with 6 of her research fellows Honour in 2009. She was invited by the Deputy Chair of
already awarded their doctoral degree. She has numerous the Board of Multicultural Arts Victoria, to speak about
publications to her credit – in National and International India’s Culture and Heritage at MAV Victoria, Melbourne
journals, edited books, textbooks, and is the author of in 2009. She currently serves as an Executive Committee
the core textbook on ‘Writing for the Media’ prescribed member of the Alumnae of British Scholars.
by Calicut university. She was a pioneer in forging She served as organiser for over 60 seminars, conferences
linkages with Universities at home and abroad and was and workshops and her CV which is over 30 pages lists her
instrumental in the many MoUs signed with Universities numerous publications, presentations, and community
abroad – such as the Deakin University in Melbourne and service which are too voluminous to be than mentioned
the Gunn Centre for Science Fiction studies, Kansas, USA. here. Her career has taken wide and varied turns, but they
With extensive academic experiences, she had the vision have always had an upward trajectory, no doubt because
to envisage two job ready undergraduate programs in of the passion and single-minded commitment with which
ST.TERESA’S COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), ERNAKULAM
Applied Media Studies and in Apparel and Fashion Design. she approaches everything.
Under her stewardship as NAAC coordinator, the College She is, in the ultimate reckoning, a formidable woman
was awarded the highest A++ from NAAC. She served as – independent, resilient, and enterprising. She is both a
Staff Advisor to the Arts Club from 1992-2004, and many dreamer and a doer, a pathfinder and a patron, an achiever
were the trophies the College garnered during the period, and a disciplined camp-follower. In all this, I believe, it is
notably the Mahatma Gandhi University Youth Festival her immense faith in God, her regard for her relationships
Trophy, multiple times. She was the NSS Program Officer and friendships, her belief in herself and her unflagging
from 2009-12 and advisor to manifold clubs and cells – positivity that brings her the best of all that the world
even initiating novel ones such as the popular Media Cell. has to offer. As she retires this year, I, on behalf of the
As Nodal Officer for Wiscomp – she was part of Project Department of English, thank her for her advice, her many
Hamsa which focused on Gender Equity and Inclusion. admonitions, and her affection. We wish her that all that
dreams are made of.
Some of the Non-Academic positions she holds include
being the nominee of TATA trust and Executive Member of Dr. Preeti Kumar
the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust Hospital at Chottanikkara. She is
78 a Research Consultant and Executive Member for Project Assistant Professor
Department of English Literature