Dr. Neeti Bathala brings almost two decades of experience in higher education, teaching ecology and environmental sciences at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition to teaching in a traditional academic setting, she is an instructor for adult learners at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Duke University.

An ecologist by training, Dr. Bathala has participated in numerous local and global conservation projects. Her research has taken her to diverse biomes worldwide, from studying carbon storage in Alaska's boreal forests to monitoring bottlenose dolphins in the Mediterranean. She has degrees from Rutgers University (B.S.), Temple University (M.A.), Duke University (M.E.M.) and the University of Georgia (Ph.D.).

During her graduate studies, Dr. Bathala contributed to a National Science Foundation (NSF) project investigating carbon allocation across North America's biomes. She has spent time at numerous NSF Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTER) sites, including the Bonanza Creek LTER located in the boreal forests of Alaska. Collecting data during two field summer seasons, Dr. Bathala maximized the Alaskan midnight sun to work around the clock, exploring the Tanana River and staying at a reindeer research facility at Denali National Park. These experiences allowed her to gain valuable firsthand experience with the region's unique environment.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Bathala is an award-winning author of children’s literature and is involved in community public education on coastal and environmental issues. She is deeply committed to projects encouraging STEM, particularly for women in the sciences. She serves on the Board of Advisors of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University and has also contributed her time as a mentor for students in Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment graduate program.