Dr. Anjali Thanawala is an accomplished higher education executive, grants administration leader, educator, and nonprofit founder whose career has been dedicated to expanding educational opportunity through innovation, strategic planning, and operational excellence. With more than 25 years of experience spanning higher education administration, grant strategy, financial stewardship, academic program development, and educational technology, she has consistently helped institutions strengthen their missions while delivering meaningful outcomes for students, faculty, and the communities they serve. Known for her ability to transform vision into action, Dr. Thanawala combines fiscal responsibility, policy expertise, and educational leadership to drive sustainable organizational success. She leads with emotional intelligence, creating cultures built on empathy, trust, and collaboration, while fostering diversity of thought to encourage stronger decision making, inspire innovation, and achieve lasting organizational impact.
Currently serving as the Director of Grants Administration at Bergen Community College, Dr. Thanawala oversees one of the institution’s most critical strategic functions. As the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) for federal and state agencies, she leads the development, submission, implementation, and oversight of multimillion-dollar grant initiatives while managing an annual portfolio exceeding $37 million. Her responsibilities extend well beyond financial oversight, encompassing regulatory compliance, procurement, institutional planning, audit preparation, budget management, faculty collaboration, and organizational process improvement. Her leadership has directly resulted in securing more than $15 million in competitive grant funding while modernizing grant administration processes that improve efficiency and strengthen institutional capacity.
Dr. Thanawala’s leadership philosophy is grounded in the belief that education transforms lives when institutions intentionally invest in innovation, equity, and student success. She works closely with executive leadership, faculty, and administrators to identify emerging opportunities, develop sustainable initiatives, and align financial resources with long-term institutional priorities. Whether delivering professional development programs on grant writing, mentoring faculty through proposal development, or providing strategic guidance on new academic initiatives, she consistently demonstrates an ability to unite diverse stakeholders around common goals while fostering a culture of accountability, creativity, and continuous improvement.
Prior to joining Bergen Community College, Dr. Thanawala served in several influential leadership positions at Passaic County Community College, where she made significant contributions to enrollment management, strategic planning, and STEM education. As Executive Assistant to the President, she collaborated directly with senior leadership on Guided Pathways initiatives, enrollment strategies, institutional communications, and campus-wide operational improvements. Earlier, as STEM Program Director, she successfully managed a $750,000 annual budget while overseeing programs that served more than 850 students and supervised tutoring and mentoring initiatives supporting hundreds more. Among her most notable accomplishments was increasing STEM dual enrollment participation by an extraordinary 800 percent while creating innovative Summer Bridge programs and expanding stackable certification opportunities that better prepared students for future academic and professional success.
Beyond institutional leadership, Dr. Thanawala has demonstrated remarkable entrepreneurial vision through the founding of OurMEETOnline NJ Inc., an educational technology nonprofit dedicated to closing digital learning gaps. Recognizing the growing need for accessible, technology-driven education, she created the organization to develop web-based curriculum solutions supporting K-12 classrooms in India. Working alongside educators, software developers, and nonprofit partners, she has led the development of original instructional content in mathematics, science, and English while establishing partnerships designed to bring innovative educational technology to underserved communities. Her work reflects her belief that technology, when thoughtfully implemented, can expand access to quality education regardless of geography or socioeconomic circumstance.
Dr. Thanawala has also built an impressive career as a scholar, educator, and researcher. She currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Kean University while previously teaching and coordinating academic programs at Hudson County Community College. Her doctoral research at Rowan University examined the factors contributing to the success of inner-city Hispanic students participating in STEM dual enrollment programs, highlighting her enduring commitment to educational equity and student achievement. Her published research on sustaining STEM learning during the COVID-19 pandemic further demonstrates her ability to translate academic inquiry into practical solutions that strengthen educational systems during periods of significant disruption and change.
Her academic credentials reflect an unwavering commitment to lifelong learning and professional excellence. Dr. Thanawala earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Rowan University, complemented by master’s degrees in English Literature from both New Jersey City University and Guru Nanak Dev University in India. She also holds undergraduate degrees in Computer Science, Physics, and Mathematics, providing her with an interdisciplinary perspective that uniquely positions her to navigate both academic leadership and technology-driven innovation. Additional certifications in English as a Second Language instruction, diversity and inclusion, research compliance, and educational leadership further reinforce her broad professional expertise.
Throughout her career, Dr. Thanawala has remained deeply engaged with professional organizations that shape the future of higher education. She serves as Chair of the Institutional Advancement Affinity Group for the New Jersey Council of Community Colleges and leads the Higher Education Committee for the National Grants Management Association’s New York/New Jersey Chapter. She also contributes as an external evaluator for educational institutions and actively participates in the Middle States Commission on Higher Education community. These leadership roles allow her to influence best practices across higher education while expanding collaborative networks that benefit institutions throughout the region.
Internationally, Dr. Thanawala brings valuable multicultural insight rooted in both her educational background and professional initiatives in India. Fluent in English, Hindi, and Punjabi, she effectively connects diverse communities while promoting educational collaboration across cultures. Her international perspective enhances her ability to develop inclusive programs, build meaningful partnerships, and understand the evolving educational needs of a global society. Combined with her experience in nonprofit leadership and educational technology, this perspective positions her to contribute meaningful strategic guidance to organizations operating in increasingly interconnected environments.
Outside of her professional accomplishments, Dr. Thanawala enjoys traveling, exploring culinary arts as a passionate chef, and remaining actively engaged in educational innovation. Her personal interests mirror the curiosity, creativity, and continuous learning that have defined her career. She approaches every opportunity with optimism, intellectual rigor, and a commitment to helping organizations grow stronger through thoughtful leadership, collaborative partnerships, and mission-driven decision-making.
As she seeks opportunities to serve on corporate, nonprofit, and educational boards, Dr. Thanawala brings an exceptional combination of governance expertise, financial stewardship, grant administration, organizational development, policy implementation, academic leadership, and educational technology innovation. Her experience overseeing complex budgets, navigating regulatory compliance, leading institutional transformation, and fostering strategic partnerships equips her to provide meaningful oversight and forward-thinking leadership. Organizations seeking a collaborative board member with deep expertise in higher education, nonprofit management, financial governance, and innovation will find in Dr. Thanawala a trusted advisor committed to creating sustainable success and expanding opportunities for future generations.
Character:
Dr. Thanawala leads with integrity, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to educational equity and organizational excellence. She consistently demonstrates humility, resilience, and a genuine desire to help individuals and institutions reach their highest potential.
Knowledge:
Her extensive expertise in higher education leadership, grant administration, financial compliance, educational technology, and organizational development enables her to solve complex institutional challenges with confidence. She combines scholarly research with practical executive experience to develop informed, sustainable solutions that create measurable impact.
Strategic:
Dr. Thanawala possesses exceptional strategic vision, aligning financial resources, institutional priorities, and operational improvements to support long-term organizational growth. She consistently anticipates emerging opportunities while implementing innovative initiatives that strengthen institutional effectiveness and mission fulfillment.
Communication:
A thoughtful communicator who builds trust across executive leadership, faculty, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders. Her ability to translate complex ideas into collaborative action allows her to inspire confidence, foster partnerships, and achieve meaningful organizational results.
