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Dr. Kavitha Nair L
Dr. L. Kavitha Nair is currently the Head, Department of English and Foreign Languages. With a career spanning 25 years, her research contributions encompass literature and language, women’s studies, mythology, and transformational teaching and learning. She holds a Ph.D. in Mahabharata studies and has presented widely recognized research in her field.
She is an accomplished leadership trainer, certified by the Dale Carnegie Associates Inc, NY, and Cambridge, and has trained upper management professionals from Fortune 500 companies. She is also a POSH trainer, a teacher trainer, and a strong advocate of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). A believer in simplicity, transparency, accessibility, and continuous learning, she credits her success to her EEE philosophy – Education, Environment, and Experience.
Dr. Nair is internationally certified in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) from the American Association of TEFL and holds a TESOL certification from Arizona State University, USA. She has been invited as a speaker at numerous national and international platforms, contributing to discussions on literature, pedagogy, and leadership.
A Madras University Rank Holder (Top 3), she has also led various accreditation committees, delivered guest lectures, presided over events, and actively contributed to academic and institutional development. Her YouTube channel, Lovingly Yours English, features around 40 videos aimed at enhancing English language skills.
Beyond academics, she is an avid cricketer and badminton player. She captained her college cricket team, represented Madras University’s Women’s Cricket Team, and won the faculty shuttle tournaments at places of her work. She is also a passionate about music and also sings. Her contributions to academia and leadership have been widely recognized, and she was recently honoured as one of the Top 10 Inspiring Women Leaders by She Inspire Magazine.
EXPERIENCE : 22 years years of experience
RESEARCH INTEREST :
English Language and Literature, Mythology, Diaspora and Women’s Studies
COURSES :
English Language and Literature
Education
publications
awards & Achievements
Workshops / Seminars / Conferences
Work Experience
memberships
Responsibilities Held
Education
| Degree | Institute/Organisation | Specialisation | Year Of Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| UGC Approved short term programme | Indira Gandhi National Open University | Curriculum and Digital Pedagogy | 2024 |
| Diploma | Arizona State University | Professional Development for Teacher Trainers | 2023 |
| TEFL | American Association of EFL | Teaching English as a Foreign Language | 2021 |
| Diploma | Dale Carnegie & Associated, Inc | Train the Trainer | 2017 |
| PhD | University of Madras | English Literature | 2009 |
| MPhil | Madras Christian College, University of Madras | English Language and Literature | 1997 |
| MA | MCC, University of Madras | English Literature | 1996 |
| BA | University of Madras | English Literature | 1994 |
publications
Place and Memory: Revisiting the Past Self Through Autobiographical Memory, Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, 2024.
IoT-powered training for employee potential through smart embedded tools and technologies, Routledge Taylor and Francis, 9781032606002, 2024. (Book Chapter)
Language and literature: A tool for social change – Challenging the status quo: Addressing Rape Culture in Indian Mythology, Pacific Books International and ELTAI Thoothukudi Chapter, 978-9392469732, 2023. (Book Chapter)
Deconstructing Identities: Transdisciplinary Outlook Towards Languages and Literature, MAPS, 9789392063770, 2023. (Book Chapter)
Futuristic Amalgamation of the past and the present in Literature – Draupadi as Historian: A Paradigm Shift, International Journal of Language and Literature, American Research Institute for Policy Development, 7 (1), pp. 78-91
DOI:10.15640/ijll.v7n1a10
http://dx.doi.org/10.15640/ijll.v7n1a10
‘Reinterpretations of Mythic Stereotypes in ‘Transforming Spirit of Indian Women Writers’ Word Press, Feb 2012. ISBN 978-81-7273-640-8
Agency, Narrativity Gender in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Palace Of Illusions, LANGUAGE IN INDIA, Volume 1 : 6 June 2011. ISSN 1930-2940
Panchaali as the ‘Sutradhari’ in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Palace of Illusions in JSL The Journal of the School of Language, Literature & Culture Studies Jawaharlal Nehru University Publisher: Pencraft International, New Delhi, Autumn 2010.
The Effectiveness of Teaching Reading Comprehension through Task-based Language Teaching (online resources) among the Engineering Students of SRMIST, Sanshodhak, Volume 1, Pages 98-103.
Mobile Mediated Reading Strategies: A Cross – Sectional study on SRMIST Engineering Students, Journal of Survey in Fisheries Sciences, Volume 10, 2023, Pages 441-450.
Coming Out: Analysing And Deconstructing The Socially Defined Heterosexuality And Queer Trauma In The Novel, Journal of Positive School Psychology, Volume 6 No. 7, Pages 3598-3606.
The Impact of Strategy-based Instruction for Developing Reading Comprehension among Engineering Students, Journal of Psychology, Volume 58, Pages 78-82.
The Effect of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) to Develop Speaking Prociency of Students of Engineering, Journal of Engineering Education Transformations.
Patents:
A Pen For Converting Text Into Speech With Grammar Check, 167598, 2024
awards & Achievements
Academic Excellence:
English Literature – University of Madras II Rank holder, 1994
English Language – University of Madras IV Rank holder, 1994
Second Language Hindi – University of Madras I Rankholder, 1994
Honors and awards
Certificate of Appreciation for conducting Two Day Workshop on “Effective
Teachers and Effective Learners” for the faculty of NBU, Northern Border University, March 2019
Certificate of Appreciation towards voluntary service for teaching English to the administration staff and teaching faculty from other departments of NBU, Northern Border University, May2019
Certificate of Contribution towards the CEA Accreditation, part of the six-member action committee Nov 2018
Certificate of Appreciation for conducting Two Day Workshop on “Learning to Lead and Learning to Lead” for the faculty of NBU, Northern Border University, March 2017
Certificate of Appreciation for contribution towards CALL, Northern Border University, June 2016
Certificate of Appreciation for contribution towards CALL, Northern Border University, June 2015
Workshops / Seminars / Conferences
Workshops and conferences conducted
1. Conducted a one-day workshop on Revamping 21st Century Teaching Skills for the faculty across departments, Saveetha University, 25 May 2022.
2. Conducted a webinar on Intellectual Property Rights, talk given by Dr Gobinathan Nair, the Patent Guru, Saveetha University, 19 April 2022.
3. Conducted a Two-day workshop on Learn to Lead and Lead to Learn, at Northern Border University, for faculty across departments and colleges, NBU, April 2019.
4. Member, Organizing Committee, International Conference for teachers of English Language on ‘Trajectories in the Teaching of English – Expanding the Horizons’ – An International Conference for the teachers of English Language in Engineering Colleges, at VIT University, Chennai Campus, Feb 2013.
5. Enlivening English Classrooms – Impact of Literature on ELT’, conducted by the Department of English, S & H, VIT, Chennai Campus, March 2013.
6. Conducted a one-week Faculty Development Program for faculty and Staff at VIT, Chennai Campus, April 2012.
7. Invited as a Resource person to Marudhar Kesari Jain College for Women, vaniyambadi for a Three Day International Online Faculty Development program.
8. Invited as a Resource person to Sri Vidya Mandir Arts and Science College, Krishnagiri for a International Virtual Conference on Religious and Political Perspectives in English Literature.
9. Invited as a Resource person to VIT Chennai for a One-week Faculty Development Program for faculty and Staff.
10. Invited as a Resource person to School of Science and Humanities, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research for a online national Faculty Development Program on Academic Publications and Research Funding Opportunities.
11. Invited as a Resource person to Saveetha Engineering College for a International Seminar on Learn Foreign Languages to Grab International Placement Opportunities.
12. Invited as a Resource person for a Workshop on “Harnessing Inner Strength: A Workshop on women’s resilience” organised by Department of Aero Space Engineering, SRMIST, KTR Campus in association with the student chapter of the Institution of Engineers (India), Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu.
13. Invited as a Resource Person for 3RD International Conference on Higher Education Institutes’ Challenges and Solutions for Sustainable Development Goals – 2024 organised by Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering, Centre for Research in Environment, Sustainability and Advocacy and Climate Change (REACH) BETWEEN 03-05 December.
14. Invited as a Resource Person to Camp Road Kerala Samjam to celebrate International Womens Day on 30 March, 2025.
15. Invited as a Resource Person for a seminar on “Nuturing Young Leaders” – A Seminar on Leadership to all Class Representatives organised by Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, SRMIST, KTR Campus in association with Department Student Counselling Cell on 20th March, 2025.
Conferences / Webinars / Workshops Attended (Since 2018)
1. International Seminar on Recent Research Trends in Language and Literature on 26th and 27th May 2022, organized by Vellore Institute of Technology Chennai.
2. Virtual Two-Day Faculty Development Program on ‘Academic Publications and Research Funding Opportunities’ by School of Science and Humanities, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, March 2022.
3. International webinar on ‘India – China Relations: Perspectives for Enterprises, by Saveetha Foreign Languages Centre, March 2022.
4. IATEFL webinar ‘The Forgotten Skill: Building Vocabulary for Spoken Production’ 2018.
5. International Conference on “Reading Humanities in the Twenty-First Century: Aesthetics, Theory and Praxis” organized by the Postgraduate and Research Department of English, Fatima Mata National College, Kollam, 18th-19th February 2022.
6. International Symposium on Educational Pedagogies & Technologies for Sustainable Development, organized by Amrita School for Sustainable Development, 24th –26th January 2022.
7. 10 days FDP on “Continuing Professional Development: Practising, Researching and Publishing” organized by NIT Trichy, July 2021.
8. International webinar on ‘India – China Relations: Perspectives for Enterprises, by Saveetha Foreign Languages Centre, March 2022.
9. IATEFL webinar ‘The Forgotten Skill: Building Vocabulary for Spoken Production’ 2021.
Work Experience
Academic Experience:
Work at Present Professor & Head
Department of English and Foreign Languages, SRMIST, Kattankulathur, TN, India
Guideship
Research Interests: English language and Literature; Mythology and Women’s Studies
28 Oct 2013 – 30 July 2020 Assistant Professor and RS Coordinator
Northern Border University, Arar (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
Administrative responsibilities: Coordinator, Heading the English curriculum planning and mapping committee, results review, Steering committee of CEA, Examinations committee, Faculty Interview and Evaluation and panel, Faculty Training, student counselling and feedback, Time table and course distribution;
Coordinator for CALL, from planning to optimization;
Conducting workshops for faculty and students across the colleges affiliated to the university; Instruct to prepare students for their transfer to a four-year college program;
In addition to instruction, providing guidance to students on English Language Skills in building knowledge-based society for future.
Taking classes in general English and ESP for students from engineering, medical, pharmacy, nursing and Arts;
Affected increase in student success rate by 30%.
Taking voluntary English classes for faculty and non-teaching staff;
Heading the English Club and the Reading Club;
01 Jun 2011 –31 May 2013 Assistant Professor (SeniorGrade) & Guideship
Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai (India)
Member of Curriculum Development Board, Interview panel; Examiner for University Examinations; Improving the course structure and resources by implementing Project Based Learning;
Trainer for Soft skills for faculty, III year Engineering students and MBA
students; Teaching Communication Skills to MBA students;
Spoken English and Technical English to Engineering Graduates and Postgraduates; English Language Lab-in-charge; Time Table in-charge;
7 Sep 2009–30 Apr 2011 Assistant Professor
SVCE, Anna University, Chennai (India)
Trainer for Soft skills for faculty, III year Engineering students and MBA
students; Teaching Communication Skills to MB & MCA students;
Teaching Spoken English and Technical English to Engineering Graduates and
Postgraduates Member of Curriculum Development Board; Examiner for University Examinations
1 Mar 2007– Present Soft Skill Trainer
iSMART Communications, Chennai (India)
Training Managers and Employees, Teachers and Students on Dynamic
Managers, Time Management, Interpersonal Skills, Team building and bonding,
Interpersonal skills, Leadership, Life-long learning, Employ-ability skills.
1 Oct 2005–20 Feb 2007 Lecturer and English Department Head(i/c)
Saveetha Engineering College, Anna University, Chennai (India)
Administrative duties: Time table and course distribution, Conducting meeting on conduction of classes, results and curriculum planning;
Teaching Communication Skills to MBA students;
Teaching Spoken English and Technical English to Engineering Graduates and
Postgraduates; Examiner for University Examinations;
Women’s Convener
1 Jun 2000–31May 2004 Lecturer
SCSVM, Enathur University, Kanchipuram (India)
Teaching Graduate and Postgraduate students:
Indian Literature; American Literature; Women’s Literature and General English;
Staff Coordinator
1 Sep 1998–30Mar 2000 Lecturer
Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala (India)
Teaching Graduate and Postgraduate students:
Indian Literature, American Literature and Women’s Literature
Other Professional Experience:
- Key Achievements as an Educator
Successfully combined predictable and activities-based learning into one whole, resulting in exceptional increase in interpersonal relations and created in a high interest in collaborative learning of language concepts. Introduction of interactive teaching, increased student interest and attendance by 75%
• Put in place a novel idea of Loud Reading Club, where in all the members read the same book and enact or discuss the part liked by them on the day of meeting happening fortnightly once. It
took over the college like a storm and in six months was a great hit. It provided the thrust to build confidence in students and great ease of learning. - Lead a team of 20 faculty members, as department in-charge for a project.
- College Cultural Convenor
- Convenor for Women’s Cell
- University Magazine Coordinator/ Chief Editor
memberships
Life time member of ELTAI – English Language Teachers Association of India – 2017
Life member of ISTD – Indian Society of Training and Development – 2022
Life member AESI – Association for English Studies of INdia – 2023
Life member of Indian Association for Women`s Studies – Centre for Women`s Development Studies – 2024
Responsibilities Held
Professor & Head in the Department of English and Foreign
Languages.
Research Guide.
