Dr. Md Shahriar Islam is a scholar, leadership educator, and public service professional with over a decade of experience in higher education and youth empowerment. As Director of the Youth Leadership Program at ProjectHBCU (Helping Beautiful Children Unite), he helps prepare students in grades 6 through 12 to pursue higher education and become active leaders in their communities. He led our first annual virtual Youth Leadership Summit and continues to develop culturally responsive leadership curricula, facilitate summits, and mentor student ambassadors.

Originally from Bangladesh, Shahriar brings a global perspective to his commitment to educational opportunity and inclusive leadership. He earned his Ph.D. in Community and Public Affairs from Binghamton University (SUNY), where his work examined institutional trust, intercultural competence, and democratic governance. At Binghamton’s Multicultural Resource Center, he supported diversity initiatives through interfaith dialogue and social justice programming. From 2022 to 2025, he served as a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Public Administration at Tarleton State University, teaching graduate courses on leadership, organizational behavior, and diversity in public service.

Shahriar’s research explores how public institutions shape equity and development, particularly across the Global South. In 2025, he received the Professor Krishna Tummala Emerging Scholar Award from the South Asian Section of the American Society for Public Administration. His community engagement includes supporting first-generation students and immigrant youth. Through ProjectHBCU, he brings his teaching experience and commitment to community into spaces where Black and Brown students can develop their leadership skills, strengthen their voices, and take an active role in shaping their futures.