Being a guiding epitome is not what everyone can become; it comes with inherent passion and unconditional zeal to make a better future for others. Dr. Snehal Donde has been doing the same as an Environment Conservationist and Education Administrator with a significant experience of being a College Principal affiliated to University of Mumbai exclusively for 15 years out of 3 decades of experiences as an academician and researcher. Sharpening her work profile as a lecturer with specialization in Zoology & Management Studies, she has efficiently dressed herself in the merits of a professional through enriching educational qualifications, dynamic work experience and extension services. She was selected for the prestigious Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence grant program in City University of New York for fall semester (15^th August-15 Dec, 2024). During this tenure, she did co-teaching in Environmental Health Science subject and conducted research on Sewage Treatment Plant in Ward Island, Manhattan to bring out sustainable solution for the raw sewage being discharged in rivers globally. She has also exchanged cultural heritage and expertise with various Universities and colleges in Outreach Learning Programmes and also associated with activities of various environmental groups like Billion Oyster project, Hudson River Trust, Randals Island Trust and Marine biology research projects of Harbor Public School in Governor Island. She was invited to participate in Fulbright Enrichment Seminar in Ohio State to share information on Sewage Science and Public Health. Presently she is occupied in diverse projects to conduct audits of STPs/ETPs/CETPs with regards to the river rejuvenation initiatives in Maharashtra and other States of India.

For the community extension activities, she started as early in the yr 1993 as NSS Programme officer, followed by Extension Field officer in DLLE, University of Mumbai and thereafter continued in similar activities as Hon. Chief Research officer in Goverdhan Ecovillage (WTO awarded GEV), at Hamrapur Manor, Palghar, which is a model sustainable village of ISKCON. She is fulltime committed to river rejuvenation projects in Maharashtra and pan India for addressing the issues of water & food security, with integrated solutions. For her immense contribution and dedication in Nature awareness programmes, river rejuvenation and water conservation initiatives, Dr Donde was first recognized as Jalnayak by Water Literacy Department, Yeshada (Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration) Government of Maharashtra and later at National level by Tarun Bharat Sangh & Jalshakti Ministry Partner group. As a member of Jalbiradari led by Dr Rajendra Singh ‘Water Man of India’ contributing as Core Member of Indian River Basin council (Penninsular and Himalayan) and heading 6 Peninsular States and is Chief Convenor of Aviral Ganga Mission (West Bengal & Tripura) for resolving erosion, siltation issues and rehabilitation of displaced population in affected areas. Godavai, Tapi, Narmada flowing in four states, Prachi & Mhahanadi in Odisha, Indravati in Chatisgarh, Rivers of Goa and Tripura, she has conducted extensive studies. At International level she is active member of World Water Council, making efforts to curb commercialization of water.

She has conducted aerial survey of Ganga from Bihar to West Bengal and as a solutionary, under her leadership along with a team of Scientists she has conducted social and environmental assessment of Ganga river basin from Farakka to Malda-Murshidabad districts upto Ganga Sagar in West Bengal. She has taken up the issues with Office of Prime Minister and President of India for resolution and also used RTI tool effectively for the purpose. In Maharashtra she has been painstakingly working for rejuvenation of western flowing rivers such as Kamvari & Arjunali (Bhiwandi Taluka), Bhatsa (Kalyan Taluka), Waldhuni & Ulhas (Ambernath taluka), which are severely encroached, polluted and mainly shrinking into nallahs. Being a Researcher and environment activist, she has vastly studied issues of over-damming in Maharashtra which is affecting biodiversity, fishery and livelihood of displaced people. She has extensively conducted survey for understanding the efficacy of government policies and status of implementing Rain water Harvesting policies in Mumbai city and its suburb, and followed up with Water department authorities for ensuring its effective implementation as an alternative for water crisis. She and her scholars have carried out studies on Mithi river and Dahisar creek for mangrove carbon sequestration to recommend government effective formulations of policies and strategizing mangrove conservation. Presently she is leading Maharashtra Govt. Chala Januya Nadila Campaign in Mumbai & Thane dist, for rejuvenation of 5 rivers in Mumbai and 9 in Thane dist. simultaneously, which started on 2^nd Oct, 2022. By administering Bioremediations, she has been able to revive few waterbodies and protect Goregaon Dindoshi hills to retain its biodiversity and stream orders of river Walbhut. She is educating and training several govt. authorities, officers, NSS Co-ordinators, students and other stakeholders to mobilize and engage them in ecological restoration of riparian zones of rivers, mangroves and forests for sustainability and Climate change resilience.      

She is a dedicated academician, an able distinguished administrator and ardent environmentalist, with a futuristic vision for leadership, who inspires people around to strive for quality and excellence in Education as well as fighting for the cause of water crisis. She is very passionate about any work she undertakes. She is double PhD one in Science (Zoology with extensive study on effect of crude oil on marine organisms) and 2^nd PhD in Humanities & Social sciences (Management) for evaluating efficacy of education policies to achieve quality & standards in HE, professionalism among faculties and organizational effectiveness. Presently she is pursuing third doctoral studies on the concept of ‘Hinduism and ecology’ to resolve pollution, sedimentation and erosion issues of Ganges river and ghats restoration, by changing human behaviour and mind set.  She is recognized PhD/MPhil/PG guide in Zoology and Education Management from University of Mumbai, SNDT, AMET Chennai, JJT Rajasthan. 9 students have been successfully awarded PhD degree and 4 are pursuing research under her able guidance. She has authored 10 books and six chapters in books published by international publisher. 50 papers are published in peer reviewed Journals of National and international repute. Her main focus area in research is Education policy, Riverine ecosystem, Environmental pollution and biodiversity studies. Through research work she is making efforts to bring change in archival policies as she firmly believes that effective policy can bring quality change. And thus forwards inputs/recommendations periodically to appropriate regulators for policy guidelines and amendments. She has presented several papers in international and national conferences and travelled extensively across India and abroad countries like US, UK, Canada, Thailand, Mauritius, Srilanka, Brazil, France and other nations. She is recipient of awards from various agencies and name a few, she is recipient of Green Crusader award by UNEP Ministry of Environment and Bhamla Foundation, Dr Belsare Medal from Zoological Survey of India, Best Educator Award (Twice), Best Extension work Teacher awarded by University of Mumbai for community services, received several Awards for excellence and contribution in water literacy, conservation and river rejuvenation, Membership and vocational excellence award conferred by Rotary Club and has successfully completed Leadership Academician Programme in Virginia, US sponsored by Ministry of HRD, GOI. She is appointed as Chairman of Clean and Healthy River Committee by Microbiologist Society of India.

She has created mass movement in school, colleges and universities across India to create social engineers and stewardship for cleaning water bodies and ecological restoration of rivers, along with regularly conducting trainings, workshops and orientation for forest officers, Gram Sevaks, Rural Extension officers, Talathi (Kisaan Sevak), Krishi Adhikari, Circle officers to make judicious use of water, protecting agriculture lands, forests, soil sponge/biodiversity and understand crop pattern with rain pattern. In the meetings with authorities in Tehsil, Grampanchayat, Zilla Parishad, Collector office, Municipal Corporations, MMRDA, MPCB she has set formula for performance report and accountability to resolve issues of exploitation, encroachments and pollution with good governance practices. With her boldness and courage many polluting companies were shut down and facing ligation cases, as well as forced to adopt to right technologies or remedies. By promoting convergence schemes, integrated approach of governance and RTI activism, she has resolved several environmental and education institutions challenges. She has worked closely in collaboration with City University of New York (CUNY) to advocate for the use of weather stations to address the issues of climate change and drought affected regions.

Delivered several sessions on sewage treatment, water conservation and river rejuvenation in home country and abroad, which can be viewed in talk shows on TV channels and interview by Walking Water organization in USA (https://walking-water.org/2020/09/01/interview-with-dr-snehal-donde/), website https://drsnehal.com, YouTube channel https://youtube.com/@dr.snehal7778, linkedin and Facebook page https:www.facebook.com/snehal.donde. A multi-dynamic individual she has proven that nothing can stop you from acquiring knowledge, learning, environmentalism and contributing in community for social action and sustainability.