Shakila Merchant

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT SHAKILA MERCHANT

I am an environmental scientist, educator, and institutional leader committed to advancing student success through mentorship, workforce development, and inclusive excellence in STEM. For more than two decades at The City College of New York, I have built and led vertically integrated pathways that support students from high school through graduate education and into impactful careers.As the Founding Director of the CUNY CREST HIRES program and a leader within NOAA-supported education and research initiatives, I design experiential learning ecosystems that integrate research, professional development, and community engagement. My work bridges Earth system science, sustainable engineering, and climate resilience with real-world workforce preparation—ensuring students graduate not only with technical expertise, but with confidence, purpose, and leadership capacity.Mentorship with empathy is at the core of my leadership philosophy. I believe student development extends beyond publications and credentials; it is about building trust, strengthening identity, cultivating resilience, and creating access to opportunity. I am especially committed to expanding participation in environmental and engineering fields and to developing diverse talent pipelines that reflect the communities we serve.My leadership spans multi-agency partnerships, federally funded research centers, and cross-sector collaborations that align academic innovation with national workforce priorities. I am driven by a simple but powerful goal: to create inclusive ecosystems where students thrive, institutions evolve, and science serves society.