Vishal Gaikwad

Vishal holds the position of Web Developer Lead at the Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy Program (IPLP) within the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona. Additionally, he serves as the Director of Marketing and Communications for José Francisco Calí Tzay, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNSRRIP). Through his role at IPLP, Vishal assists UNSRRIP in web development, multimedia, and communications.

Vishal played a pivotal role in developing the Native American Advancement, Initiatives, and Research (NAAIR) web portal for the Senior Vice President's Office of Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement, Assistant Vice Provost's Native American Initiatives, and Research, Innovation, & Impact's Native Peoples Technical Assistance Office. The NAAIR web portal serves as a centralized and easily accessible hub, providing comprehensive information about the diverse range of Native and Indigenous research, education programs, outreach initiatives, community resources, and engagement opportunities at the University of Arizona. In recognition of his exceptional contributions and accomplishments, Vishal was honored with the James E. Rogers College of Law Ralph E. Long Memorial Award in 2023.

Vishal originates from a small village situated in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, India, and spent his formative years in Mumbai. As a first-generation college graduate, he holds a significant place within the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes community in India, which was previously referred to as Untouchables or Outcastes. Vishal's academic achievements include earning a Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com.) degree and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Mumbai University. Additionally, a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Brooklyn Law School in New York and a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) degree from IPLP. Vishal's S.J.D. dissertation, “Indigenous Websites: Embedding Indigenous People's Human Rights on the Internet,” is an instructional guide designed for grassroots indigenous communities worldwide to empower their international human rights using websites.