Research Interests

Systems Change
Agency & Well-being
Evaluation
Social and Emotional Development
Educational Technology
Artificial Intelligence
International Development

Dr. Ananya Tiwari is an assistant professor in Educational Psychology.
Her research bridges educational psychology, evaluation science, and global development to examine how systems can be transformed to better serve communities, one of which is rural adolescent girls in India.

Her research agenda centers on transforming educational and social systems to advance learning outcomes and well-being. She examines systems change as a multi-level process shaped by intersecting structures, actors, and power relations to co-create transformational educational ecosystems. Building on this systems-level perspective, she also investigates how individuals experience and navigate these evolving systems—particularly in relation to agency, belonging, and mental well-being—in an era increasingly shaped by emerging technologies. Her work explores how tools like AI are reshaping core human experiences for students across educational, STEM, and community contexts, and what this reveals about broader societal transformations. Across these strands, she brings a longstanding commitment to mixed methods, international development, participatory evaluation, and culturally grounded inquiry, with a focus on centering community voices, rethinking research ecosystems, and informing policy through inclusive evidence.