Dr. Aparna Rastogi is the Centre Coordinator (CC) and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fashion Communication at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bhubaneswar. She has over thirteen years of academic and professional experience in fashion communication, journalism, broadcasting, and digital media. Her expertise spans Fashion Communication, Communication Design, Branding, Digital Media, Media Studies, Audio-Visual Production, Advertising and Public Relations, Event Management, and Visual Storytelling.

Mr. Priyabrata Das is a Professor specializing in scalable Back-end system. Currently he is teaching Undergraduate and Postgraduate students in Data Analytics, Web Development, Database management, AI and IoT. His expertise lies in developing custom back-end services which can scale and cater to millions of users.

Mr. Nand Kishore Baraik is an Assistant Professor of Fashion Technology and specializes in Production and Operation Management. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses and leads research in Sustainability and operation management. He joined NIFT in 2014 before that he worked in apparel industry for 7 years in area of production and Industrial Engineering. He is pursuing his PhD from the KIIT University (KIIT School of Management) in the area of Sustainability.

Ushasi Rudra is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Textile Design at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bhubaneswar. Her areas of teaching and expertise include textile weaving, textile print design, handlooms, and craft. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Textile Design from NIFT Kolkata and a Master’s degree in Textile Design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Her professional experience spans design practice, craft-based livelihoods, and textile industry collaborations.

Mr. Arnav , Assistant Professor of Fashion Communication at NIFT Bhubaneswar, specializing in Systems Thinking, UI/UX Design, and Design Thinking. Having joined the institute in 2021, he served as the Campus Coordinator for Fashion Communication from January 2022 to December 2024. His teaching expertise spans Creative Thinking Skills, Visual Design, Design Strategy, and Systems Thinking etc. 

Dr Priyadharshini K. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fashion Management Studies at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bhubaneswar, where she has also served as the Centre Coordinator since January 2025. She holds a Ph.D. in Management from the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, an MBA in Apparel Business, and a B.F.Tech in Apparel Production.

Dr. Lipsa Mohapatra is an academician and researcher in fashion management, textile technology, craft studies, indigenous knowledge systems, innovation and sustainable fashion systems. She is an engineer in Textile Technology (BTech, Hons) and Masters in fashion Management (NIFT, Bengaluru). She is currently serving as Assistant Professor at NIFT Bhubaneswar and teaches in undergraduate and postgraduate courses and leads research in crafts and artisan livelihood studies.

D. Harish Rajiv is an Assistant Professor in Fashion & Lifestyle Accessories (F&LA) at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and currently serves as Joint Director I/c. He has over a decade of experience in fashion education, academic administration, design, retail, and the apparel industry. His areas of expertise include accessories design, retail marketing, apparel merchandising, sourcing, supply chain management, material exploration, and sustainable design practices.

Md Abul Ala is an Assistant Professor in the Textile Design Department at NIFT Bhubaneswar, with over a decade of academic and industry experience in textile and apparel education. He holds a B.Tech in Textile Technology from Serampore Textile College(GCETTS) under West Bengal University of Technology, Kolkata, and an M.FTech in Apparel Production from NIFT Bengaluru. He specializes in textile chemical processing, textile surface modification, weave design, natural dyes, and sustainable fashion.

Ms. Susmita Behera is an Associate Professor in the Department of Fashion & Lifestyle Accessory Design (F&LA) at NIFT Bhubaneswar, with extensive experience in fashion design, lifestyle accessories, craft-based design, and design development. A passionate and dedicated design professional, she brings together academic expertise, creativity, industry exposure, and institutional experience in her teaching, mentoring, and professional responsibilities.