Meghna Laha

Meghna Laha is a PhD candidate at Florida International University, where she began her doctoral studies in 2019. Her research centers on social inclusion and equity, with a focus on making university ranking systems more transparent to better connect students and institutions. Laha holds degrees from Columbia University and the University of Rhode Island. Earlier in her career, she worked for one year at the World Bank in Washington, DC, before returning to India. There, she founded the NGO Pragati, which educated approximately 200 children in remote villages and supported 300 women through self-help groups focused on mushroom cultivation and basic computer skills. She later established the startup UnivTrac India, a portal aimed at linking verified student profiles with U.S. universities. Laha has collaborated with organizations including Save the Children and NGOs based in Amsterdam and India. She is also a three-time table tennis champion from her school years.