Ashoka Appoints New Director for Centre for Well-Being Following Transition

Around three months after the departure of the founding director of the Ashoka Centre for Well-Being (ACWB), Dr. Arvinder Singh, and the subsequent restructuring of campus mental health services, Ashoka University has appointed Nivedita Singh as the new Director of ACWB.

Singh announced her appointment in a public post, describing the decision as the outcome of an “intense and deeply reflective process”. A mental health professional, Singh has worked as a psychotherapist, trainer, supervisor and institution builder. She has received advanced training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) from the Albert Ellis Institute in New York and Dr. David Burns of Stanford University.

The appointment follows significant changes to the Centre’s structure announced earlier this year. After Dr. Arvinder Singh stepped down in March, ACWB was brought under the Office of Student Affairs and integrated with the Student Care Office. Throughout the transition period, counselling support continued through the Student Care Office and external therapy services available through YourDost therapy services. The Student Care Office has since shifted into the ACWB offices in AC04. At present, it remains unclear whether ACWB under its new leadership will function as an independent centre, as it did previously, or continue to operate under the administrative structure of the Dean of Student Affairs and the Student Care Office.

According to the university’s counselling portal, ACWB currently lists five counselors available for appointments. The university has not yet announced whether additional counselors will be hired or whether the Centre’s staffing structure will change under the new leadership.

The university has not yet released further details regarding upcoming initiatives or changes under Singh’s leadership.

The Edict reached out to Ms. Singh and the ACWB for comments regarding the matter. This piece will be updated to reflect their responses as and when received.

[Edited by Antara Kulkarni and Avika Mantri]