Dr. Neeti Bathala brings almost two decades of experience in higher education, teaching undergraduate ecology and environmental sciences. She currently teaches in the Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science at Drexel University in Philadelphia and is also an instructor for adult learners at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Duke University.

An ecologist by training, Neeti has worked across ecosystems worldwide, from tropical and marine environments in the Caribbean and Central America to Alaska’s sub-Arctic boreal forests. She was selected as a Fulbright Specialist (2024–2027) for her international conservation work, reflecting her commitment to studying and teaching across diverse biomes. She holds four degrees, including a master’s from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University and a PhD from the University of Georgia.

Neeti completed National Science Foundation postdoctoral course training in global conservation biology, focusing on tropical island and marine ecosystems in Belize, Hawaii, and the Galápagos Islands. She studied tropical ecosystems in Costa Rica as a student and has since returned repeatedly to teach and conduct research at multiple biological stations in the tropics.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Neeti is an award-winning author of children’s literature and is involved in community public education on coastal and environmental issues. Her civic engagements include membership in the Haddonfield Garden Club of New Jersey and the Junior League of Philadelphia. In addition, she serves on the Board of Advisors of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University and volunteers with the Nature Center of Cape May. Neeti is deeply committed to projects encouraging STEM, particularly for women in the sciences.