Dhruti Patel. Ed.D.

Dhruti Patel is a Tenured Extension Faculty/Educator in Family and Consumer Sciences serving Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. Since 2012, she has utilized research-based methodologies to develop and evaluate high-impact educational programs. Her work is uniquely positioned at the intersection of community health and educational technology, where she leverages emerging tools, including Artificial Intelligence, to innovate health interventions and improve accessibility. Her successful program portfolio addresses critical community needs, ranging from chronic disease management and behavioral change to the Alzheimer’s Caregiver program and AI literacy and policy.

In addition to her regional role, Dr. Patel is engaged at the national and state levels with institutions, including serving as Vice President of Public Affairs for the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) and as a member of the Extension Foundation's AI Advisory Board. Her current research focuses on developing intersectional health programs that integrate diverse disciplines through a technological lens. This focus is informed by her doctoral research at Frostburg State University, where she explored the AI landscape to assess policy governance, institutional preparedness, and literacy within higher education. Her interdisciplinary expertise is grounded in a Doctorate in Education (2025), two Master's degrees in Nutritional Sciences (Texas Tech University) and Clinical Dietetics (India), and a Bachelor’s degree in Food and Nutrition (India).