Dharma P. Naik is the head of client success for the USA with IDP Connect, instrumental in enhancing international student placement, acting as a vital link for partner universities and aiding students with international admissions and recruitment strategies. Coordinating closely with global offices and counselors to align recruitment efforts, enhance outreach, and strengthen university branding among prospective students worldwide, Ms. Naik ensures that students receive accurate information during their application process. She is proud to facilitate enrollment at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Throughout her career, she has devoutly contributed to and learned from her industry as a member of various professional organizations, including the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers and the American International Recruitment Council.
At IDF Connect, Ms. Naik connects with partners, oversees performance, and identifies vectors for improvement. She offers advice on how to better engage with offices around the world, meeting with networks of counselors and managers in various countries to understand how to grow their market share. By identifying gaps in information, knowledge, and training, Ms. Naik has received numerous awards highlighting her exceptional contributions to her industry. In 2018 and 2019, she was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award from Student Placement Excellence USA, and in 2018, she was honored with an Inspirational Innovation Award and the Terrific Transformation Award for outstanding performance in setting up new offices from IDP Education Ltd. Additionally, Ms. Naik received the Thong H. Nguyen Memorial Outstanding Alumni of the Year Award from the University of Maryland Alumni Association in 2011, as well as the Dr. Rosane Rocher Award for Faculty/Staff Contributions to the Community from the University of Pennsylvania in 2005.
Prior to her current role, Ms. Naik served as associate director for the USA with IDP Education Ltd. She also was a freelance training and leadership development consultant, providing expert guidance to various organizations and leveraging her extensive experience in leadership and education to drive organizational success. During this same period, she was the country head and regional admissions manager of South Asia for the Domus Academy and NABA with Laureate International Universities. Further, Ms. Naik was the assistant vice president at the Pearl Academy of Fashion with Laureate International Universities and excelled as the head of product management for Manya Education Pvt. Ltd. Her earlier career includes notable positions at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she was a program coordinator and a marketing undergraduate admissions coordinator. Ms. Naik also was associate director for the Pan-Asian American Community House at the University of Pennsylvania.
Ms. Naik holds a Master of Arts in counseling, personnel services, and higher education administration from the University of Maryland, College Park. At the same institution, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology. Highly credentialed, she holds multiple certifications, including a diversity, equity, and inclusion (known as DEI) in the workplace certificate from USF Corporate Training and Professional Education. Ms. Naik earned an edX Verified certificate for leading high-performing teams, before which she completed a graduate certificate in leadership and management from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a certificate in Asian American studies from the same institution.
Ms. Naik credits her undergraduate mentors with fostering her dedication to student affairs. Their guidance inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in counseling and personnel services, further fueling her passion for higher education along with her desire to give back to the community. Among her proudest achievements, she fondly recalls moving to India on a short-term contract, demonstrating her adaptability and commitment to helping students achieve their dreams of studying abroad.
In her personal life, Ms. Naik enjoys traveling, trying new cuisines, and spending time with her dog, Ranger. She envisions a future where she lives on a farm, rescues animals, and leads a more peaceful life. Ms. Yet for now, Naik’s short-term professional goal is to pursue a Fulbright scholarship, which would allow her to immerse herself in a profession similar to her current one but in a different country. Ultimately, she hopes to advance to a senior leadership role within a university setting, where she will be able to foster global connections, facilitate international initiatives, and enhance educational opportunities for faculty, staff, and students.
