Biography

Drashti Bhatt is a seasoned higher education technology leader with nearly two decades of experience in IT, data analytics, application development, and strategy. As Director of IT, Data Analytics & Application Development in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, she leads transformative initiatives that harness data and technology to streamline operations, enhance user experiences, and align innovation with institutional goals.

In her role, Drashti oversees application development, IT operations, and analytics strategy across the college—building scalable systems that automate complex business processes and empower data-informed decision-making. A passionate mentor, she is dedicated to cultivating inclusive, high-performing teams that thrive on continuous learning, collaboration, and agility.

Her leadership journey—rooted in cross-cultural experience and a commitment to mentorship—reflects her belief in technology as a catalyst for inclusion, transformation, and leadership development. Drashti has been a featured speaker at professional events including the Women Advance IT Leadership Conference, UNL’s All-Staff Conference, the Nebraska Women of Color in Tech Meetup, and the Nebraska GenCyber Camp.

She also actively contributes to community STEM programs such as STEMVentures Summer Coding Camp and Girls Code Lincoln, mentoring middle school students in programming and hands-on technology projects. Drashti holds an MBA in Business Analytics from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, an MS in Computer Applications & IT from India, and has completed the Gallup Manager Program, reinforcing her focus on strengths-based leadership and people-centered management.