Dr. Pritirekha Daspattanayak is a Professor of Geography in the Department of Applied Geography at Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha. She is the Dean, School of Regional Studies and Earth Sciences since 2017.  She started her career in 1989 as a lecturer (OES) and served Gangadhar Meher College (Autonomous), Sambalpur. In 2002 she was placed under the designation of a Reader. She was transferred to Ravenshaw College (Autonomous) which was later upgraded into a university in 2006. She became a regular faculty of the university in 2010 and was later granted the designation of associate professor. She served as Head of the Department during 2010-12, and 2017-19. Her area of specialization is Urban and Regional Planning. She has been actively engaged in research on contemporary urban issues and challenges. She has completed one Minor Research Project sponsored by UGC and one Major Research Project sponsored by DST, New Delhi. She has supervised eight PhD and eighteen M.Phil scholars by 2020. She has authored two books (one edited) and more than fifty research papers published in eminent journals of national and international repute. She is a life member of several professional bodies/ societies including National Association of Geographers, India (NAGI),  Regional Science Association of India (RSAI), Deccan Geographical Society of India (DGSI), Indian Institute of Geography (IIG), Eastern Geographical Society (EGS), Institute of Town Planners India (ITPI) etc. She has had a long stint as hostel warden for over 16 years both at her previous place of work and Ravenshaw University. Besides she has also shouldered many other administrative responsibilities from time to time as Programme Co-ordinato of NSS, and Counsellor of YRC among others.