Dr.  Abha Rai (Ph.D., MSW) is an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago who comes with over a decade of international community work experience. She has worked closely with community-based organizations while designing programs, engaging in program evaluation and providing direct support to individuals, families and groups. Dr. Rai has been a grassroots community worker in both rural and urban India. She has led national campaigns across India in partnership with multinationals and agencies like Johnson & Johnson, ANZ Bank as well as the US Consulate.

She has also worked with community organizations in the Chicago area for about two years now. Her primary areas of interest include gender-based violence across communities, with a specific focus on immigrants and immigration issues.