Planned Gift Honors Former EPPS Professor
By: Christina Pugliese | January 30, 2025
Dr. Vibhooti Shukla worked as an economics and political policy professor at the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences from 1987 until her death in 1992. In her memory, her husband, Dr. Satchit Srinivasan, established the Vibhooti Shukla Graduate Fellowship and the Vibhooti Shukla Professorship of Economics and Political Economy at The University of Texas at Dallas.
Recently, he pledged $1 million which will elevate the professorship to a distinguished professorship.
“She loved this university,” Srinivasan said. “She had seven other academic job offers, but she picked UT Dallas because of the economics and political policy program. After she died, my gifts were matched, and we instituted an endowment for graduate students. Then came the professorship.”
Shukla’s dedication to UT Dallas inspired Srinivasan to honor her legacy through a planned gift. He wanted students and faculty who shared her passion for urban economics to have the necessary funds to conduct research of which she would have approved.
“The students loved her, and she loved them,” Srinivasan said. “She had high ratings as a professor and was incredibly appreciated as somebody who cared about her students. Beyond the classroom, too, she loved her job. I would watch her go two or three days straight on the computer with these enormous spreadsheets filled with different datasets, and she would be singing. It was fun for her.”
Dr. Edward Harpham, professor emeritus of political science and founding dean of the Hobson Wildenthal Honors College, worked with Shukla at UTD and the two became close friends. Harpham said that Shukla’s research and ability to connect with students continues to motivate him and impact on the school today.
“Dr. Vibhooti Shukla was a shining example of what I always looked for in a friend and colleague,” Harpham said. “She was a bright and highly motivated scholar, always bringing the best out in herself and others. A superb teacher in the classroom and caring mentor in her office, she always went the extra mile for her students and colleagues.”
Even after her passing, Shukla has continued to impact others. The Vibhooti Shukla Graduate Fellowship, established in 1993, has been awarded to more than 30 students. Since its establishment in 2005, two professors have held the Vibhooti Shukla Professorship, the late Dr. Rodney Andrews and Dr. Todd Sandler, professor emeritus in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. Sandler researches international political economy, defense and terrorism. Andrews studied the economics of education.
Srinivasan hopes the next professor to hold the Vibhooti Shukla Professorship is somebody who is well qualified in a science-based research area, like Andrews and Sandler.
“I had dinner with Dr. Sandler a few times, and I got to know him through his papers,” Srinivasan said. “Looking ahead, my preference for whoever receives the professorship next would be grounded in producing scientifically rigorous research.”
Dr. Jennifer Holmes, dean of the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the Lloyd V. Berkner Professor, is dedicated to preserving Shukla’s legacy and is grateful Srinivasan included the school in his future.
“We have had the honor of preserving Dr. Shukla’s legacy for over 20 years,” Holmes said. “Our students and faculty have been significantly impacted by Dr. Srinivasan’s generosity. The money he has given us has gone towards transformative economic and political policy research. We are thankful he is continuing to include us in his plans and expand the opportunities available to those in the field his wife loved.”
Srinivasan’s main objective has ultimately been to keep his wife’s memory alive.
“She was an only child, so after I am gone, there will be no family left who knew her,” Srinivasan said. “I think she was exceptional, and I don’t want there to be a world where nobody knows she was born. For me, UTD was the obvious destination for me to give money to because the academic rigor she loved so much is still here.”