Shalini was born in India but has grown up in the USA (Michigan, Tennessee, New York). She has worked in the field of DEI in higher education for over 25 years, and more recently has spent the last three years in Vermont working in State government. During her time in the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), she has been serving on the ANR Diversity & Equity Committee and the DEC Environmental Justice Committee. Most recently she has been appointed to two Vermont Governor’s Commissions - they are the Governor's Workforce Equity and Diversity Council (GWEDC) and the Governor’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD). All these experiences have afforded her the opportunity to learn even more about social justice issues in our State and have further solidified her interest in remediating systemic racial disparities. She has a passion for justice, equity, and inclusivity trainings and has dedicated most of her career to promoting diversity and advocating for underrepresented populations.