At the peak of her journalism career, Archana redirected herself to academia. As an assistant professor, she is involved in projects with Lincoln University, UNESCO, and Israel. She has also earned the 'Iconic Woman Award' from the Economic Forum.

Archana Kumari is an Assistant Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. She has been in the teaching profession for more than fifteen years and has taught at several universities including the University of Kashmir.

Hailing from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Archana reflects upon her childhood years when she had a burning desire to become a journalist. She avidly used to read newspapers in both Hindi and English and had great fondness for reading and composing poetry. She used to actively participate in debates, quiz competitions and sports activities during her school days which further fueled her aspirations. Her parents always supported her in every decision in her life.

She did a course in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi. Subsequently, she served as a Hindustan Times reporter in Patna and in the All India Radio. She was also a television reporter for Jain TV.

Post-marriage, recognizing the impracticality of sustaining a full-time career in journalism, she chose the path of academia. She completed her M.Phil. and PhD from JNU, and successfully cleared NET JRF. Initially appointed as an assistant professor at the University of Patna, she was later transferred to the University of Kashmir.

Acknowledging the challenges she faced, Archana cites the difficulty in balancing personal and professional commitments post-marriage as a big challenge. She then decided to join academia and make her contribution by teaching journalism. As a woman, she confronted the additional challenge of preparing for NET JRF on her own, working on a contractual basis, and managing household responsibilities simultaneously.

Sharing about her achievements, Archana highlights the gratification derived from the respect and inspiration garnered from her students as biggest boosters. Fond memories of her teaching tenure at the University of Kashmir, where she was cherished by her students, remain a poignant accomplishment. Recognizing the potential psychological toll of journalism, she endeavors to prepare students for such situations. For this, she is working on a project in collaboration with Lincoln University. Additionally, she is engaged in projects with UNESCO and Israel and was honored with the 'Iconic Woman Award' by the Economic Forum. Beside this, she has also authored a poetry book.

Talking about her mistakes, Archana acknowledges a tendency to place trust too readily in people, a trait she has since learned to temper through past experiences.

When asked about her role models, she pays tribute to her parents, who instilled in her the virtues of self-confidence and the ability to confront challenges fearlessly. She also acknowledges a teacher who played a pivotal role in guiding her throughout her journey.

Archana's success mantra is to work without expectations.