Dr. Rekha Datta is the Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Monmouth University. She holds the Freed Endowed Chair in Social Sciences and is Professor of Political Science at Monmouth University. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Connecticut, USA. Dr. Datta is a 2017-18 U. S. Senior Fulbright Scholar, recipient of the Fulbright-Nehru Award for Academic and Professional Excellence in Teaching and Research. During 2017-18, she served as a visiting professor and researcher at the Jindal School of Government and Public Policy at the O.P. Jindal Global University in Haryana, India.

Her work received national recognition in 2011 with the Outstanding Leader in Experiential Learning Award from the National Society for Experiential Learning (NSSE). She received the Global Visionary Award (2012) and Distinguished Teacher Award (2003) from Monmouth University, and the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Jersey Shore chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice (2004).