Harsha Gangadharbatla is the Faculty Director, focusing on Mid-Career Faculty Development, in the Office of Faculty Affairs. He develops programming to support associate professors as they advance past tenure. In 2022, he designed and piloted a mentoring circles program to help mid-career faculty build relationships and support networks with their peers with similar goals or affinities. He also oversees the Excellence in Leadership (ELP) program, runs the Leadership Education for Promotion and Advancement (LEAP), and supports various activities under the ACUMent Center. Additionally, Harsha provides workshops targeted to the needs and interests of associate professors and works to build community among international faculty.
Harsha is a Professor of Advertising in the College of Media, Communication, and Information. He holds a BE in electrical engineering from MNNIT (India), an MA in Advertising from Michigan State University and a PhD in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin. Harsha served as the founding department chair of Advertising, Public Relations, and Media Design (APRD) and as the President of the American Academy of Advertising.