The University of Central Florida (UCF) officially appointed international affairs expert Yogesh Joshi as its inaugural Indian Community endowed chair and director of The India Center during an investiture ceremony on Nov. 4. 

Established in 2012, The India Center is part of UCF’s School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs and aims to provide a deeper understanding of contemporary India’s influence on global issues.

Prior to 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 taught at Yale-NUS College.

In her welcome address, Dean of the College of Sciences Maggy Tomova emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “Community and culture are key focus areas for UCF’s strategic plan, and today truly represents community and culture in action.”

Several donors and families, including the Deshpande, Mehta, and Toleti families, were acknowledged for their instrumental role in establishing the endowed chair. The ceremony featured remarks from UCF provost Michael D. Johnson, who highlighted the significance of this role, noting, “UCF is enriched by a significant number of Indian American faculty, staff, and students. This endowed professorship is a tremendous investment in The India Center’s future.”

In his address, Joshi outlined his vision for The India Center, emphasizing its focus on exploring India’s global role in fields such as science, technology, and international relations. “Together, we can empower and make real change in the lives of many Americans and Indians,” he said.

Joshi holds a doctorate in International Politics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and has co-authored three notable books on India's nuclear strategy and foreign policy.

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