Prof. Sheila Rai in her professional career spanning three and a half decades has served in various academic and administrative capacities. She graduated from the University of Rajasthan from where she also obtained her degrees of MA & MPhil in the discipline of Political Science and merited JRF from UGC  for pursuing   PhD research in Gandhian Philosophy.

Prof. Rai commenced teaching Political Science in 1985 in Vinodini Mahavidyalaya, Khetri and was subsequently appointed in the Department of Political Science, University of Rajasthan where she served for nearly 30 years from 1989 to 2018.  Thereafter she  was  appointed as Principal of St.Xavier’s  College where she contributed in multifaceted ways towards the unprecedented growth of the institution. Imparting knowledge and shaping the minds of countless students in more than three decades of her academic career, Prof. Rai’s influence transcended borders through serving as faculty for foreign universities in various countries viz.  US  and Canada.  She has visited more than 25 countries  to deliver invited lectures and participate in international deliberations.  Prof. Rai  has  been privileged to  hold numerous positions of responsibility and leadership viz. Director – Gandhian Studies,  Director – Department of Lifelong Learning, and many other academic  bodies and administrative positions within the University and beyond. As  National Expert Member, Technical  Education & Training, Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Ministry of MSME,  and as President  of the legendary Indian Society of Gandhian Studies Prof. Rai availed rewarding opportunities to pursue her passion for Gandhian thought and praxis. 
Prof. Rai’s penchant for research   found fruition through major research projects sanctioned to her  by ICSSR  (i) ‘Evolution of Article 370: An Analysis(2017-19)  (ii)’Caste Party and Ticket Distribution in Rajasthan(2005-07)’ & (iii)Teacher Research Grant Project  on ‘ Gandhian Paradigm: Quintessence of Real Development by ASRC,  Hyderabad (1997). Her deep commitment to research  propelled her towards supervising  and mentoring 40 PhD candidates and also numerous  MPhil and MA dissertations . She has  presented her research in various national and international seminars and conferences and gained global recognition  by being elected as Chair, Research Committee -35 ‘Technology & Development’ of International Political Science Association(2016 -2022). She willingly shares her experience and expertise with various universities and institutions which solicit her contribution and support.

Author of six books  viz. ‘Gandhian View of State, Individual and Society’ published by IRAS, Jaipur in 1991 and the latest ‘Globalization  and Sustainable Development: Quest for a New Paradigm’ published in 2021 by Society Publishing, Burlington Canada, Prof. Rai is also Editor, for more than a decade, of ‘Raj-Yashti-The Journal of Social Sciences’  Bi-Annual Journal published by Rajasthan Political Science Association. She  also has to her credit  several Chapters & Research Papers published in national (28) and international (13) journals and books.

Prof Rai’s dedication to excellence in higher education extends beyond the classroom.  She has organized and chaired several national and international conferences, seminars, symposia and workshops, fostering academic discourse and collaborations. As General Secretary of Rashtriya Samaj Vigyan Parishad she is persistently engaged in galvanizing such efforts to augment the much needed indigenization of Social Sciences in India.