Two Worcester State professors from Business Administration and Earth, Environment and Physics have been selected by the New England Board of Higher Education as faculty fellows for the 2024 North Star Collective.
Nabin Malakar, associate professor and physicist, and Kaushik Mukherjee, assistant professor of management, are among 31 ALANA/BIPOC (African, Latine, Asian, Native American and/or Black, Indigenous, People of Color) faculty from across New England in the spring 2024 cohort.
The North Star Fellowship was created by ALANA/BIPOC faculty members for ALANA/BIPOC faculty in New England. The program promotes racial trauma healing by providing a nourishing community of care, mentorship and professional development. The fellowship is focused on supporting academic writing and publishing. Fellows are provided a $1,500 grant, professional development workshops and networking opportunities, and are invited to participate in a Cape Cod writing retreat.
With an interdisciplinary background in applied physics, Dr. Malakar conducts research on air pollution and remote sensing in the thermal infrared spectrum and leads Worcester State students in meaningful projects in the field.
In 2023, he was awarded a Fulbright to conduct field research in Nepal, collecting essential field data and accessing valuable satellite datasets. The research lays the foundation for insights into Nepal’s air pollution challenges.
“I am working on further refinement of the data due to its volume, variety and veracity,” he said. “I am confident that the findings will be valuable for the broader academic community.”
The North Star Collective fellowship, he said, represents his commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for BIPOC faculty members. “I am dedicated to sharing knowledge and experiences,” he said, “and to promoting professional growth and well-being within this community.”
Dr. Mukherjee conducts research on corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. With a Ph.d. in business administration from the University of Mississippi, he is a member of the Academy of Management and Eastern Academy of Management.Prior to joining academia, he has worked for more than ten years across technology and banking sectors.
“I am deeply honored to receive the fellowship as an early career academic,” Dr. Mukherjee said. “It gives me strong motivation to pursue my academic interests. Also by learning from other fellowship recipients across multiple disciplines, my knowledge base will increase. I can impart more relevant and up-to-date training as a course instructor at Worcester State University. “
Academic Innovation
Ilyasah Shabazz shares insights and connects with students at book club
Ilyasah Shabazz was only three years old when her father, Malcolm X, was assassinated. It wasn’t until she started college, she says, that she fully realized her father’s lasting impact when she . . .