Life Histories of Women Panchayat Sarpanches from Haryana, India

Dr Pareena G. Lawrence received her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Delhi, India, and her Master’s in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics, India. She then received a PhD in Economics from Purdue University, USA. She has received a number of awards throughout her teaching career, including the Morse Alumni Teaching Award and the César Chavez Award, among others. Dr Lawrence is a development economist by training and her research explores the intersections of gender, families, the economy and politics, particularly issues of household decision-making, dowry and political participation. She has served as Professor of Economics at the University of Minnesota, Morris, USA, and as the Provost and Dean of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, USA. Currently, she serves as the President of Hollins University, Roanoke, Virginia, USA.Dr Kavita Chakravarty received her Bachelor’s, MPhil and PhD degrees in Economics from Maharishi Dayanand University, in Rohtak, Haryana, India. Her PhD research focused on poverty, unemployment and development policies in India, and she has been actively involved in studying economic problems related to development and gender issues in India ever since. Dr Chakravarty is the former Chair of the Department of Economics at Maharishi Dayanand University, and is currently serving as the Registrar of Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidhalaya (Women’s University) in the Sonipat District of Haryana, India.