Lalit Khandare, PhD, MSW, MPhil
Lalit Khandare received his PhD in Social Work from Indiana University in 2017 and his MA in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, India in 2003. His work focuses on domestic violence, global social work, and human rights. He currently teaches Research Methods and Thesis, Program Evaluation, and Beyond the Cycle of Violence in the MSW program.
Areas I teach
Education
Ph.D. in Social Work (Minor in Public & Environment Affairs and Philanthropy Studies), Indiana University, IN 2017
Dissertation: “Domestic Violence and Empowerment: A National Study of Scheduled Caste Women in India”
M.Phil. in Planning and Development, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India, 2006
Thesis: “CSR Policies on Diversity and Discrimination in the Workplace in India: A study of Advocacy by Dalit International Solidarity Organization”
Post Graduate Diploma Human Rights & Law, National Law School of India University, Bangalore, India 2005
M.A. in Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India, 2003 (Transcripts reviewed and accredited by CSWE)
Why I study social work
I lived in boarding school from 6 until 12th grade in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (at Amravati), a flagship national program in India where students were selected through a national competitive exam. The education here helped me to complete my primary and higher secondary education. I had the opportunity to travel to Haryana for two years under national integration program that infused learning on the diverse state cultural experiences in India. I had an opportunity to study and live with students from diverse cultural background. When I joined undergraduate college, I wanted to do something big in business management/commerce field. Hence, I completed my Bachelors of Commerce and Masters of Commerce from Amravati University. By the time I finished these studies I was not sure if this is the right field for me. I was looking for further education at a top university in India where I could get the best education. I heard from my professors at Amravati University that there is a nationally ranked Social Science University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, that had a history of being one of the first Social Work programs in Asia long back in the 1930s. I prepared hard for writing exam, group discussion and interviews to qualify for MSW program. Finally, I was at one of best school that gave holistic teaching with intensive practice experience in Social Work. The two years education completely transformed my perspective about the social and cultural dimension that shapes the lives of millions of people in the largest democracy of the world. I learned about the role of social work practitioners to contribute efficiently at a micro and macro level to bring change in the lives of the underserved population. I had the opportunity to work in the area of urban redevelopment, Municipal Governance, issues of women and children, and rural caste/tribe. Post MSW degree work experiences motivated me to continue further study; I joined M.Phil. in Planning and Development at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and further joined for Ph.D. at Indiana University. The topic of my doctoral thesis was "Domestic Violence and Empowerment: A National Study on Scheduled Caste Women in India."
Social work profession helped me to be engaged in teaching, service, and research. For my research I was able to contribute in the area of homelessness, housing & urban redevelopment, public health, domestic violence, and social inclusion. I taught courses in B.S.W. and M.S.W. program at Indiana University in the area of statistics, research, social policy, and field practicum. I got opportunity to travel and present my work at various universities and conferences at USA, India, Peru, Germany, and UK. This research was presented at global symposiums and conferences at U.K. Parliament, World Bank, Berlin Urban Roundtable, and Oxford University Poverty & Human Development Initiative.
Throughout my education, the cross-cultural perspectives, interdisciplinary knowledge, and global social work practice experiences shaped my worldview that motivated me to continue learning in the field of Social Work. There are so much learn, unlearn, share the knowledge across spectrum and continents towards becoming a change maker for enhancing social services programs, policies, and practice interventions.
What I would tell a student considering social work
MSW education open up broad career options where you make the difference in the lives of clients who need our services. The social work education also provide an opportunity for self-liberating experience.
I completely agree with the Council on Social Work Education statement- “The purpose of the social work profession is to promote human and community well-being. Guided by a person-in-environment framework, a global perspective, respect for human diversity, and knowledge based on scientific inquiry, the purpose of social work is actualized through its quest for social and economic justice, the prevention of conditions that limit human rights, the elimination of poverty, and the enhancement of the quality of life for all persons, locally and globally.”
Pacific University MSW program is grounded in the social work professions’ values and ethical principles of service, social justice, the dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, integrity, competence, human rights, and scientific inquiry.
Affiliations
Committee Member, Capstone Assessment Team (CAT) Pilot Project, Pacific University
Board Member, Council on Global Issues, Council on Social Work Education (2017-2020)
Member, National Center for Excellence in Homeless Services
Peer Reviewer, Council on Social Work Education- Annual Conference
Peer Reviewer, BPD Annual conference- Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Education Program Directors
Member, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Member, Human Development Capability Association (HDCA)
Member, International Union for Scientific Study of Population(IUSSP)
Member, National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Member, Population Association of America (PAA)
Member, Law & Society Association
Published Works
Rai, A., Choi, Y. & Khandare, L (2017). State of domestic violence content in MSW curriculum in the U.S. (Working Manuscript).
Rast, J. & Khandare, L. (2015). Employee Assistance Program for Mumbai police: A project on mental health wellbeing and care of police and their families. Omni Healthcare & State Government of Maharashtra(Report).
Ramaiah, A. & Khandare, L. (2013). Dalits and African-Americans in 21st century learning from cross cultural experience. Center for Study of Social Exclusion & Inclusive Policies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
Ayyar, V. & Khandare, L. (2012). Mapping color and caste discrimination in Indian society. In R. E. Hall (Ed.). The melanin millennium- skin color as 21st century international discourse. New York, NY: Springer.
Khandare, L. (2012). [Review of the book Blocked by Caste Economic Discrimination in Modern India by S. K. Thorat & K.S. Newman]. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities: A Multi-Disciplinary Journal for People-Centered Development, 13 (1).
Khandare, L. (2010). [Review of the book B.R. Ambedkar: Perspectives on Social Exclusion and Inclusion Policies by S. K. Thorat and Narendra Kumar]. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities: A Multi-Disciplinary Journal for People-Centered Development, 1945-2837, 11 (2).
Khandare, L. (2008). Peoples’ voices in democratizing cities: A case of Mumbai. Research in Practical and Theoretical Urban Management. 3 (9), 33-42.
Ayyar, V. & Khandare, L. (2007). Social networks in slums and rehabilitation sites: A study in Mumbai (India). Urban Research Symposium Papers, World Bank. Retrieved from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTURBANDEVELOPMENT/Resources/336387-1269364687916/6892589-1269394475210/ayyar.pdf
Khandare, L. (2006, December). Women and children in domestic violence: The issues of caste & class, In R. Chigwada-Bailey. (Ed), Race, Gender and Criminal Justice Process Series No. 11. Middlesex: Criminology in Millennium Publications.
Honors & Awards
Faculty Development Grant, Pacific University, 2018-2019
Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Teaching for “outstanding performance and lasting contribution” to Indiana University School of Social Work, 2017 (Only recipient of this award in 2017).
Dissertation Writing Grant, Graduate Office, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, 2016