Born in Cuttack, Odisha, Dr. Sunanda Mishra Panda is a distinguished scholar, publisher, educationist, social worker, Rotarian, litterateur, and poet dedicated to the promotion of Odia language, literature, and culture across the globe. She earned her Ph.D. in Sanskrit from the University of Delhi, specializing in Jagannath Culture, and has devoted her life to literary, cultural, and community development initiatives.

She is the Founder of Vidya Publishing, with operations in Toronto, Canada and Bhubaneswar, India, and serves as the Chairman of the CANSA Center for Community and Cultural Development, Toronto. Passionate about preserving linguistic heritage, she actively teaches the Odia language to children across North America and organizes Bhagabata recitation programs for seniors. She has also served as the President of the Canada Odia Society of Americas for four years and as Secretary of Utkalini, New Delhi.

An accomplished author and editor, her published works include Lord Jagannath in Sanskrit Literature, Nariswar (Editor/Compiler), Nibhrita Madhuban (Poetry Collection), Hitopadesha Stories (for children), Anderson Stories (for children), Shri Jagannath in Odia Literature and Culture, and Boulo. Her poems, short stories, and spiritual essays have been widely published in newspapers and literary magazines in India and abroad.

Her outstanding contributions to literature, culture, and community service have earned her numerous honors, including recognition from Prabasi Mancha – Kendra Sahitya Akademi, felicitation at the 54th Convention of the Odisha Society of the Americas in Chicago for promoting Odia language and literature globally through Vidya Publishing, the Kalinga Gaurav Award – Woman of Substance, Sarala Sahitya Saraswat Samman, AARYA Award from Parichay Foundation Delhi, Sushree Sahitya Samman, Beautiful Minds (USA/India) Social Impact Award for Literature, felicitation by World Odisha Society and ILPF, and the Voluntary Service Award from the Government of Ontario, Canada.