* Photograph by Shane Van Boxtel / Image Studios
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
As a first-generation immigrant and woman of color in Northeast Wisconsin, Pooja Bambha-Arora knows how it feels to be underrepresented. It’s why she has dedicated her career and community service to educating others and bringing visibility to diverse groups.
“I’ve really pushed myself to get more engaged and use my skills to contribute to the larger narrative around increasing people’s awareness of different cultures, their histories, their identities and to look at it from that richness point of view,” she says. “I truly believe that’s who we are as an American society.”
That passion for cultural awareness is deeply intertwined with her lifelong commitment to education. For Bambha-Arora, teaching has been a way to connect, empower and uplift others across cultures and communities.
“Education in itself has been the driver of my life,” says Bambha-Arora, who began her career in her home of Karnal, a small city in the state of Haryana, India, where she taught English to seventh-, eighth- and ninth‑grade students. “I truly believe in investing myself in people’s personal and professional growth.”
At age 25, Bambha-Arora relocated to Buffalo, New York and later earned a doctorate in English education, with an emphasis on culturally responsive teaching, from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
She has since utilized her education and personal experiences to educate hundreds of teachers in culturally responsive teaching, which recognizes the importance of students’ cultural backgrounds, experiences and perspectives in all aspects of their learning.
“Wherever I taught, I had students who came from different countries and backgrounds,” Bambha-Arora says. “They all bring such a rich cultural context to the classroom that can be used to positively move forward with a great conversation and understanding and learning from each other.”
Since relocating to Green Bay from New York in 2015, Bambha-Arora has been involved with several Northeast Wisconsin higher education institutions, including as a lecturer at UW‑Green Bay, an adjunct instructor at St. Norbert College and, currently, as a corporate trainer at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
“Her academic and professional contributions have had a lasting impact on the education sector,” said nominator and spouse Nikhil Arora. “Her leadership, advocacy and dedication to improving the lives of others truly make her a difference maker in our community.”
Bambha-Arora has prioritized civic engagement by chairing the Brown County Racial Equity Committee, serving on boards for organizations such as United Arts, the Interfaith Council at UW-Green Bay’s Mauthe Center and, most recently, Wisconsin Progress. She made history as the first South Asian American/Indian American to run twice for school board of the Howard-Suamico School District.
“Her courage and determination to break barriers and represent her community in public service are truly inspiring,” Nikhil Arora said.
Last May, Bambha-Arora’s efforts were recognized nationally when former President Joe Biden invited her to the White House for a reception honoring Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian leaders.
A sense of responsibility — to both her community and the next generation — drives Bambha-Arora’s commitment to opening doors for others who haven’t always seen themselves reflected in positions of influence.
“One of the most important things for me is that we have representation, especially living in this area where I did not see a lot of people like me in the areas that I wanted to be in,” she says. “I have a daughter, so it is important that little girls see that.”
