Dr. J. O. Jeryda Gnanajane Eljo is a distinguished academic, Social Work Professional, Researcher and Community-service practitioner. She has specialized in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work, Child and Adolescent Welfare, Mental Health, Counselling and Community Development. She serves as Professor and Head, Department of Social Work, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, and has been associated with the Department since June 2008. She has established a Child Guidance and Counselling Centre and a Geriatric Counselling Centre offering free counselling services. She has undertaken UGC and ICSSR research projects focusing on children, psychosocial well-being and mental health. She has guided 14 Ph.D. scholars and 18 M.Phil. scholars and contributed substantially to social work research and higher education. Her publications include 68 international journal articles, 31 national journal articles, 49 edited-book articles and 10 books with ISBN. She has developed the School Mental Health Inventory and the Reproductive Health Scale for Visually Impaired Adolescent Girls and holds two patents. She contributed as a Subject Expert and Core Committee Member in drafting the Tamil Nadu State Policy for Children (2015–2017). Her work integrates academic leadership, research and community engagement to promote child welfare, mental health, counselling, elderly care and social empowerment.