Dr. Niroj Bhattarai is an Assistant Professor of Economics and the Director of Online Studies at Colorado State University. With over 20 years of teaching and administrative experience in higher education, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. Complementing his academic insights with entrepreneurial experience and a strong belief in engaged scholarship, his research focuses on poverty, education, and gender issues, employing mixed-method approaches to drive positive change. Notable projects include collaboration with organizations like the Rotary Club to build toilets in rural schools and provide conditional cash transfers to maintain enrollment in vulnerable populations post-disasters.

Dr. Bhattarai's teaching philosophy prioritizes student-centered, collaborative learning, preparing future economists for evolving challenges. He teaches courses in macroeconomics, economic development, and a senior seminar on global poverty, with a focus on social entrepreneurship as a driver for meaningful change.