Annette Bhatia, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, Continuing Education; Co-Chair, DEIA Committee, Columbia University School of Professional Studies
Annette Bhatia has worked with Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies since April 2017. As Associate Dean of Continuing Education, Dr. Bhatia currently oversees all Pre-College Programs which include Summer and Academic Year Weekend (non-credit), College Edge (for credit) and Youth in STEM (access initiative); the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the American Language Programs, and Summer and Visiting Student Programs. Dr. Bhatia launched the Academic Year Immersion Program in the fall of 2020, offering over 40 courses covering 10 weekends during the height of the pandemic, leading to a successful year-round non-credit college exploration program for high school students. She has expanded opportunities for Summer Immersion to include online offerings as the programs transition back to on-campus course offerings, and works with the University's undergraduate departments to increase enrollment in the College Edge programs. Dr. Bhatia launched and currently leads the Programs’ Committee on Instruction, which evaluates all Pre-College curriculum and faculty appointments. Additionally, in partnership with the Dean’s office, she launched the Program’s first Advisory Board, bringing together principals and headmasters of eleven New York City and New Jersey public, private, and charter schools. Annette also served as the School’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee inaugural co-chair from 2020 through 2023.
Dr. Bhatia has increased access initiatives to provide scholarship funding for underrepresented groups which is a lifelong passion of hers as a first generation college graduate. She has also previously led the publication of the Academic Program Review, chaired the School’s Assessment Committee during the 2019-2020 Academic year, and led program discovery and review processes leading to more streamlined practices for course management and faculty hiring. Dr. Bhatia has extensive experience in higher education and comes with a strong student affairs background, previously working in our Student Affairs Division as the Director of Student Services. Dr. Bhatia has held positions at BMCC/CUNY and the University of Arizona prior to joining Columbia University.
A loyal wildcat, Dr. Bhatia holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education, M.A. in Political Science, and her B.A. in Political Science and Mexican American Studies from the University of Arizona.
