The Department of English would like to congratulate Associate Professor Pranav Jani for receiving the ASC Diversity Enhancement Faculty Award. This award recognizes faculty whose “research, teaching and service promote diversity and support a culture that exhibits inclusive excellence, community and openness.”  

Jani, whose work specializes in postcolonial studies and critical ethnic studies, said he appreciates that his work in social justice and diversity was recognized by this award. He says, “It was a real honor to be recognized for my work and even to be nominated by my colleagues in the English department. As I complete 18 years of work at Ohio State, it felt very good to see that others in the Arts and Sciences value what I bring.”  

Jani has said that his courses and publications “explore the intersections of race, class, gender and empire—as well as resistance to structural violence.” Outside of class, Jani is involved in numerous organizations focused on diversity and inclusion. These include his role as director of Asian American Studies, faculty advisor for Students For Justice in Palestine, and a member of the South Asian Studies Initiative. Jani said that he sees his work “as a professor and an activist as being in racial justice and social justice more broadly,” and that this work is “in four areas: teaching, scholarship, program building, and community organizing, both on and off campus.” Jani was grateful to receive the award and said that he will “continue—with ever more intensity—the teaching, research, program-building, and organizing to which I’ve dedicated myself.” 

Congratulations again to Associate Professor Pranav Jani for his achievement!