Aarti completed her doctorate in 2008 at the University of Brighton. After working in Leeds for 12 years, she commenced a new post of Associate Professor of Sociology at Solent University in April 2019.
Aarti makes a significant contribution to the sport, leisure and sociological community through the following roles:
- Convener of the Leisure Studies Editorial Board
- Associate Editor for the journal Palgrave Communications (handling manager in the sociology team)
- Editorial Board Member of the Palgrave book series New Femininities in Digital, Physical and Sporting Cultures
- Editorial Board Member for the journal Sociology of Sport
- Co-Chair of the BSA Sport Study Group
At Solent, she is the founding Chair of the Leisure Studies Research Group (LSG). Under her leadership, the team have already been successful in their application to host the next Leisure Studies Association annual conference (July 2021), entitled Leisure Identities, Health and Wellbeing.
Aarti is a passionate advocate of equity in the workplace and, linked to her previous role as Co-Chair of the Race Equality Forum at Leeds Beckett University, is currently a member of the BAME network at Solent University.
Aarti works in close partnership with the Community Cougars Foundation (West Yorkshire, UK), particularly the director, Miss Saima Hussain (who is the first and only South Asian woman to play rugby league for the national team). Through the Foundation's collaborations, they develop funding bids, community-led projects and evaluations, focusing upon young people from a range of marginalised and vulnerable backgrounds, to include and empower them through carefully planned sport and leisure programmes.
Aarti has previously served as a racial equality tutor and consultant at the English Football Association (2005-08). She has also been a research consultant at other organisations, including Sport Equals, Leeds United Football Club, the Middlesex County Football Association, St Lukes Care, the Anti-Social Behavioural Unit (Leeds), the London Sports Forum, and Leeds City Council.