Prof. Shashikala Wanjari is Vice Chancellor, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), New Delhi, a Deemed to be University under Ministry of Education, Government of India. Prior to this, she was Vice Chancellor of SNDT Women's University, Mumbai, Maharashtra, the first Women’s University of South East Asia. She was conferred the rank of Honorary Colonel in the National Cadet Corp in July 2018. Earlier, she served as the Head, Department of Education, RTM Nagpur University.

Prof Wanjari has extensive experience in the area of both Higher Education and School Education, spanning 35 years of academic contribution, university administration and management. Her academic career constitutes of 29 years of teaching experience and 16 years of research experience with 44 research papers and articles to her credit. Apart from being invited to several international and national conferences, Prof Wanjari has to her credit over 250 academic lectures, contributing to the policy landscape of education in India. She has mentored over 16 students for Ph.D. in Education during her academic career. As a testament to her exceptional capabilities, Prof Wanjari has been widely acknowledged by the Ministry of Education, Government of India on various fronts. She led as the Chairperson of Syllabus cum Textbook Development Committee for the development of National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage during 2021-2023. She has authored books such as Understanding Early Childhood Education (2021) and Education in Emerging India (2008) codifying her extensive research as an academic and a practitioner.

Prof Wanjari has been the recipient of prestigious awards, noteworthy being, the Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM) in 2014 and Madam Marie Curie Award from Swadeshi Vidhyn, Bangalore. In 2024, she received the Award of Eminence in Teacher Education by the Indian Association of Teacher Education for her contribution to the field of teacher education.

Prof Wanjari is a coveted member of different academic and professional bodies in the field of Educational Administration and Management. She is positioned in governing bodies of various Universities, Higher Education Institutions and in several committees constituted by the University Grants Commission. Prof Wanjari is serving in the capacity of Hon'ble Visitor's nominee at Central University of Punjab, Central University of Jharkhand and Hon’ble Chancellor’s Nominee in several Universities in Maharashtra.

Prof Wanjari envisions the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration as a premier organization that leads the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 in its thrust areas of reforms in education in India, while adhering to its mandate of excellence in research and capacity building in the areas of policy, planning and administration in education both in India and in South Asia.