Popular actor and development activist Rafiat Rashid Mithila has entered a new chapter in her life, joining the famous Columbia University in the United States as a researcher after working with international development agency BRAC for two decades. She shared the news of her professional move with fans and well-wishers in a long post on her Facebook profile. Mithila has started working as an Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University’s Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. In this role, she will lead the design and evaluation of the Early Childhood and Family Hub project in New York.
In her Facebook post, Mithila explained the goal of her initiative, saying it works on early childhood development, family engagement and community health, connecting families of very young children—from birth to five years—to the facilities and environment they need to thrive. She expressed hope that she can use her global experience at Columbia to further advance the programme by aligning research goals with local needs and generating data and evidence. Alongside research, Mithila has also become involved in teaching. She said she has started teaching as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the City University of New York, where she is teaching “Nonprofit Management” and introducing students to the concept of working in real-world nonprofit organisations.
Expressing gratitude to her long-time employer, BRAC, Mithila said she is deeply grateful to the organisation for her professional journey. Of the two decades of experience she has spent with BRAC outside the entertainment world, she has worked in the international development sector for BRAC International for 15 years. Mithila said she is excited to have the opportunity to work with one of the world’s best research infrastructures and a team of talented researchers at Columbia University, and she sought everyone’s blessings in this new journey. The star wants to put her global experience to new use while being away from the spotlight, and her move marks a significant step in a career that has spanned both acting and international development.
