Dr. V.A. Vidya, PhD
CEO and Academic Director
Dr.Vidya, presently is working as the Consultant Programme Director for the University of Wisconsin College Year in India Programme Varanasi. During 2004-2008, she served as Academic Director of the UW-CYIP Madurai chapter. Dr. Vidya is the co-founder with J.Rajasekaran of the Chella Meenakshi Centre. She has B.A and MA degrees in Economics from Madras University, an M.A degree in International Peace Studies from University of Notre Dame in the U.S.A., and M.Sc and Ph.D degrees in Peace Studies from Madurai Kamaraj University. In addition to providing administrative coordination of the Centre, she has an active interest in teaching and research activities. Dr.Vidya's research interests have centred on the development of innovative interactive curricula, and her teaching experience extends from elementary school curricula through college, post graduate and adult education. She has taught
at the undergraduate and graduate level at Madurai Kamaraj University and the American College of Madurai, as well as at George Washington University's South India Term abroad (SITA) programme. Dr.Vidya's administrative expertise was honed through 12 years as Deputy Office Superintendent in the Central Excise Commissioner's Office of Madurai.
J.Rajasekaran
Joint CEO and Field Director
Rajasekaran has enjoyed a varied and multi-faceted career as a rock musician, folklorist, peace activist, and facilitator of educational and research activities for students and scholars in South India. He served for more than 25 years as Resident Coordinator for the University of Wisconsin's College Year in India Programme, Madurai, and during that time also assisted a great many visiting scholars from USA and European Universities. As Field Director at CM Centre, Sekar organizes every resource necessary to provide for the needs of scholars and students, ranging from setting up meetings with government agencies, NGOs, individuals, private institutions or business houses to interviewing a village shaman. He also accompanies scholars wherever his presence is needed. Rajasekaran is presently working on the prestigious documentary on South Indian Temples, with the Centre for South Asia of University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has a great
capacity to organize the nearly impossible and as one scholar commented, "Sekar can even get Tiger's milk" He holds a B.A. degree in English Literature from American College in Madurai.
Ms. Prathima Rohini Rajasekaran
Joint CEO and Director (Research and publication)
Ms.Rohini Rajasekaran is resourceful, integrates the conventional outlook of educational research with the innovative ideas. She is responsible for the oversight of translation, research, publication, website management and updating. She has an MA degree in classical South Indian music and Bharathanatyam from Satguru Sangeetha Vidhyalayam of Madurai Kamaraj University. She also has a PG Diploma in Journalism from London School of Journalism. Presently she is doing a professional internship in Atma Shakti Vidyalaya Society, Bangalore, a Therapeutic community to help the mentally ill. For the Centre, a significant contribution from her is the human resource capacity building in terms of learning soft skills.
Ms.Karthik Somasekar
Assistant Academic Director and Human Resources Manager
Ms.S.Kalpana Karthik joined CM Centre in January 2010 as an adjunct Human Resource Manager. She is responsible for the oversight of all assignments of the centre. She has an MA degree in Economics and a B.Ed degree. Ms.Karthik has worked as a school teacher for nearly 30 years in various capacities. She has a keen sense for potential, and a unique ability to build synergy. She closely monitors the work done by every employee and encourages them to assess their own speed and the work load. She is highly skilled in pooling resources, and manages even on the most stringent deadlines. Ms.Karthik has brought about a good structure to
the administrative protocols, by ensuring role clarity, and smooth communication through all sections of the Centre thereby making work even more enjoyable to the staff.
Ms.Sujatha M.Com.
Office Manager and Accountant (Receipts and expenditure)
Ms.Sujatha joined the Centre in January 2011. She has experience in conducting surveys. She is in charge of all the field records in the Centre and overall office maintenance. She works with the HR manger's plan in all of the Centre's projects. Being a transcriber herself, she makes accurate assessments on deadlines for transcription. She is efficient in organizing Centre's workshops - she is quick in meeting any shortage in requisites. Ms.Sujatha beautifully manages her work that comprises of a wide area from garden to gadgets, field records to financial statements and scholar registration to accommodation.
Ms.C.Ranjani
Personnel officer and Accountant
Ms.C.Ranjani joined CM Centre in March 2012. She has a B.Com Degree and presently pursuing her LLB a degree in law. She has experience as an insurance agent, and at the Centre she is handling the staff salaries, insurances and the Centre's Tax payment schedules.
Ms.S.Pitchai Mani
Translator
Ms.Pitchaimani joined the Centre in December 2010. She has an MA.M.Phil degree in English and very fluent in both English and Tamil She also has experience in teaching at colleges. She is extremely organized and has a fine sense of the culturally appropriate ways translating the most complex concepts.
Ms.Jasmine Riswana
Administrative Assistant and transcriber
Ms.Jasmine Riswana is pursuing her MSc., degree in mathematics. She is a part time administrative assistant and transcriber working closely with Ms. Sujatha.
Ms.Hajima
Office Assistant and transcriber
Ms.Hajima is pursuing her B.A degree in English. She is a part time office assistant and transcriber, working closely with Ms.Sujatha.
Ms.Chitra
Transcriber
Ms.Chitra has a Diploma in Tamil. She is the most diligent and reliable Tamil transcriber. Her special skill lies in transcribing folklore and rural dialects.
Mutheeswari
Hospitality & Maintenance Assistant
Ms. M. Mutheeswari had been working for CM Centre right from the inception of the organization. She disposes her duties without any hesitation. She manages a pleasing disposition despite a time-demanding work and carries them out efficiently and neatly.
Rani
Library care taker
Ms. K. Rani joined the organization in June 2012. She was appointed to take care of the CM Centre Head Office. She has an acumen to practice and learn any new given task. This quality of hers has enabled her to learn the information retrieval system of the AJ Trust Library. She has an innate love for maintaining the plants and surrounding - thus helps the office in maintaining a neat garden.
Consultants
Prof. R. Venkatraman - Academic advisory board.
Prof. Bala Nanda Kumar - Academic advisory board.
ADV.J. Chandra Paul Advisor, Legal and Finance