Archana Shekara is an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, and Honors Program Coordinator at the School of Art at Illinois State University in Normal. She holds an M.F.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a B.F.A. in Painting from the State University of New York at New Paltz. Prior to teaching, she has worked in several design studios creating projects for diverse clients. This experience compelled her to focus her research on Cultural Identity in Design. Her current teaching, practice and research is interdisciplinary based on ethnography, anthropology, sociology and cultural studies. Her projects engages the viewers to look within themselves and discover the beauty of other cultures. Professor Shekara is the recipient of the College of Fine Arts Service Initiative Award in 2014, University Research Grant award in 2012 and Town of Normal's Harmon Arts Grant Award for Festival of India at Illinois State.