With a passion for healthy and resilient communities, Aarushi Ganguly works to bridge the gap between academia and community through research, policy development, and capacity-building. Originally from Metro Detroit, she developed interests in public health and food systems, strengthening her service approach when she interned with Detroit’s Eastern Market. Through the years, she has worked on sustainability projects at the local,

national, and international levels through research, grant management, and project development.

She comes to CCED from the UK, having researched agriculture policy in the fenlands at Cambridge’s Centre for Landscape Regeneration. Dedicated to community advocacy, she also served as a project coordinator for the Cambridge Room, working to improve public knowledge of and participation in the built environment.

At CCED, Aarushi will harness mixed-methods research, communication strategies, and partnership development to assist communities in informed implementation of circular transitions. In particular, she will assist with the MI Applied Public Policy research project, studying data center governance and Community Benefit Agreements in the era of nondisclosure agreements and growing climate concerns. She will continue to grow the circular economy network forming across Michigan, as well. Importantly, she is excited to continue the center’s service legacy as a Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA in the 2026-27 cohort.

Aarushi holds an MPhil in environmental planning from the University of Cambridge, with high distinction on her dissertation. She has also earned bachelor’s degrees in public health and Spanish with high distinctions from the University of Michigan.