Pooja Bachani is pursuing a PhD in English Literature at the University of Tulsa, and is an Editorial Graduate Assistant at the James Joyce Quarterly. Previously, she was the Assistant Director of the Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University, working on curriculum development and educational program design. She has published numerous articles on public engagement and presented at several local government conferences. She has also worked in Washington D.C. in communications, advocacy, and partner relations.

She serves as Steering Committee Vice Chair and Teaching and Training Committee Co-Chair for the University Network of Collaborative Governance. She is also on the Board of Directors for Urban Rural Action, the Board of Directors for the National Steinbeck Center, and the Davenport Institute Advisory Council.

She has a Masters degree in English Education from Long Island University, a Masters in English Literature and Literary Theory from the University of Freiburg, Germany, and Bachelors degrees in English and Philosophy from Boston University.