Rutuja Lele, M.Sc., M.A

Rutuja Lele is a GIS Technician and Research Assistant at the Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX, where she’s passionate about using GIS tools and participatory mapping to support community-based projects and sustainable development initiatives. She currently works on creating interactive maps and gathering insights to highlight university contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Before moving to the US, Rutuja spent four years in Germany, where she worked as a Program Manager and Research Associate at Munich Business School. There, she developed sustainability-focused academic programs, led student workshops, and supported AACSB accreditation efforts, all while exploring innovative approaches to sustainable education.

She holds three degrees: Bachelor in Technology in Urban Planning from the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) in India, a MSc in Sustainable Resource Management from the Technical University of Munich, and a Master’s in Sustainability and Development at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Her work reflects a deep interest in climate-smart solutions, data-driven storytelling, and inclusive community engagement through geospatial technologies.