Our Bureau
Orlando, FL
On November 4, 2024, The India Center at the University of Central Florida, UCF created a milestone moment, establishing its inaugural Indian Community Endowed Chair and Director, Yogesh Joshi, Ph.D., in a celebratory Investiture Ceremony.
The India Center was established in 2012 with a vision to be the nation’s preeminent location for the study of contemporary India’s role in the world, providing educational programs, research, and outreach to the Indian community in Florida and beyond. The India Center is part of the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs in the College of Sciences, headed by Director and Professor Bruce Wilson.
Before joining UCF, Joshi led the National Security and Foreign Policy program at the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore and previously taught at the Yale-NUS College. He was a Visiting Fellow at Carnegie India and Carnegie Endowment in addition to other prestigious appointments and received a doctorate in International Politics from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
He expressed his enthusiasm for the future of The India Center and said, “Reflecting on my upbringing from a small Himalayan town, I am constantly reminded of the transformative power of education and social mobilization.” Joshi added, “As we embark on this journey together, my vision for the India Center is ambitious yet clear. We seek to explore and understand contemporary India’s role in the world from science and technology to medicine, to business and economics to its role in global affairs.
“Together, we can empower and make real change in the lives of many Americans and Indians.”
At the Investiture Ceremony, College of Sciences Dean Maggy Tomova said, “Community and culture are the key focus areas for UCF’s strategic plan. It is so important that students feel a connection to the campus and to each other as they complete their studies.”
During the ceremony, several donors along with the Founding Chairs or members of their family —the Deshpande, Mehta, and Toleti families—who were instrumental in establishing the endowed position were recognized. Representatives from Knights Khayal, a desi music group at UCF, performed a special Carnatic piece entitled, “Vatapi ganapatim.”
Provost Michael D. Johnson explained the significance of the moment and said, “UCF is enriched by a significant number of Indian American faculty, staff, and students, with Indian students representing the largest group of international graduate students at UCF.” Johnson added, “An endowed professorship is a tremendous investment in The India Center’s future, and we greatly appreciate our Founding Chairs and all the donors who made this possible.”
