Dr Unni Krishnan Karikkat

Dr. Unni Krishnan K, is an Associate Professor, Ph.D. guide and a Fulbright Alumnus (FNDPR-USA), Chevening Clore Leadership Fellow CCLP (FCO-UK), UNESCO BUCoF Fellow (UK-2019-21), CSCLeaders 2020 . He has received Gold Medal from former President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Award from Ministry of Culture. He has taught and presented various lecture series across the U.S.A., U.K. and India. He is an academician, senior artist & curator and a social educator with a humble list of accomplishments.

Unni has his Doctorate in Art and Cultural History (Visual Culture) from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU) with a Nehru- Fulbright Doctoral & Professional Research Fellowship (USIEF-FNDPR 2012-13) at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), MD, USA. He is currently an Associate Professor at the Manipal Institute of Technology, Founder and heading the Centre for Creative and Cultural Studies (CCCS) at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). He has presented his research at Oxford-UK, Institute of International Education-Washington DC, MICA- MD, India and at various South Asian Research Centers. Apart from research, he has been awarded with Gold Medal from the former Hon. President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for academic excellence and has contributed and exhibited his artworks at various venues including the group show ‘Ashe-Amen’ at New York funded by MOBIA and the Andy Warhol Foundation, travel exhibition series. He has curated art exhibitions of various renowned senior artists, writers and litterateurs. He has over ten years of teaching and over five years of Media-Industry experience. He has recently received a fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India: Scheme of Award of fellowship to outstanding persons in the Field of Culture 2015- 16. He is an active member at various research organizations and art Centers and is also a Ph.D. guide. He has been organizing annual conferences in the USA and India. He has been actively contributing towards social education- Art and Culture outreach projects for the financially challenged communities and Government schools of India. Introduced 'Art Appreciation', 'Leadership, Sustainability and Innovation', 'Creative Communication' as an open elective subject for all disciplines in the University, probably first of its kind in India. Published book titled 'Culture and Creativity - selected essays of renowned culture critic -Prof. N Manu C.' He is currently editing books on Culture, Arts, Media and Policy. He actively works on Education and Culture Policy with NGO’s and Educational institutes in India.