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Dr. Rajendra Shinde

Dr. Rajendra Shinde is an accomplished academician and administrator currently serving as Director at HSNC University, Mumbai. He previously served as Principal of St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, with over 34 years of experience in roles such as Vice-Principal, Head of Botany, and Director of the Blatter Herbarium. He also had international teaching experience at the University of Guyana. A PhD in Botany from the University of Mumbai, he specializes in plant taxonomy and has been a recognized PhD guide since 2006, supervising multiple doctoral students. He has held key academic positions, including Chairman of the Board of Studies in Botany and member of the Academic Council at the University of Mumbai. Dr. Shinde has received numerous awards for leadership and teaching excellence, including the Best Principal Award (2023). His academic contributions include authoring books, publishing 64 research papers, discovering new plant species, and filing a patent. Author of three books in plant sciences and contributor to one additional volume. He has published 64 papers in national and international journals, discovered three new grass species, and filed one patent. With strong expertise in educational leadership, he has played a significant role in implementing NEP 2020 and maintaining top NIRF rankings for his institution. He has completed one major and five minor research projects. He has also been instrumental in securing RUSA grants for autonomous colleges and a DBT Builder grant for the institution, along with several non-governmental grants.

Dr. Kalpit Ganesh Mhatre

Dr. Kalpit Ganesh Mhatre is currently working as an assistant professor in botany at New Education Society's Shriram Kusumtai Sadashiv Vanjare College, Lanja District Ratnagiri, Maharashtra State. He has total teaching experience of 10 years at UG level. He has completed his Ph.D. from St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Mumbai. He is the author of 12 books and editor of 19 books. To his credit he has 21 research papers in UGC CARE list and has written 59 chapters in various books. He also has 03 patent publication to his credit. He has vast experience in the field of Plant Taxonomy, Ethnobotany, Molecular Systematics, Ecology and Anthropology. Apart from academic work, he has been engaged in administrative work also. At institute level, he is being working as a Nodal Officer for various schemes such as Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), Kalam Program for IP Literacy and Awareness (KAPILA) and Atal Ranking of Institution on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA). Dr. Mhatre is a President of Institutional Innovation Council (IIC). He has been designated as a District Sustainability Mentor (DSM) for Ratnagiri District by Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India, Hyderabad.

Mr. Alok Gude

Mr. Alok Gude is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Botany at St. Xavier’s College (Empowered Autonomous Institute), Mumbai 400001, with over 20 years of teaching experience. He holds an M.Sc. in Botany from Nagpur University and has qualified the CSIR- UGC NET in Life Sciences. His academic career spans teaching roles at Hislop College, Nagpur, and Wilson College, Mumbai. He has contributed to curriculum development as a member and Vice-Chancellor’s nominee of the Board of Studies in Botany at various colleges, and as Chairman of the Board of Studies in Botany at St. Xavier’s College. He has also served as an external examiner, paper setter, and moderator for B.Sc. and M.Sc. Botany programs under the University of Mumbai. He has authored many research papers and book chapters on various topics in Botany. He has co-authored the book Bharat Ke Mahan Vaigyanik (2024), published by the Maharashtra Rajya Hindi Sahityik Academy, which reflects his interest in promoting science through literature. In addition to his institutional responsibilities, he has extended his expertise beyond his own college by voluntarily conducting laboratory experiments for postgraduate Botany students at Dr. A.R. Undre Women’s College, Borli Panchatan, Raigad.

Dr. Nitin Manohar Valanju

Dr. Nitin Manohar Valanju (M.Sc, B.Ed, M.Phil., Ph.D, SET) is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at Shri S. H. Kelkar College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Devgad, District Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. He has over 17 years of teaching experience at the undergraduate level. He has received the prestigious “Jafar Nizam Gold Medal – Young Scientist Award” at the XXX Annual Conference of the Indian Botanical Society. He has authored one book and has published 12 research papers, including review articles and book chapters. Additionally, he has one patent publication to his credit. He serves as an editorial member of a research journal and has contributed as a reviewer for two peer-reviewed journals. His academic engagement is reflected in his active participation in approximately 59 workshops, conferences, seminars, and training programs. Dr. Nitin Valanju is a member of “The Indo- Japanese Association for Bonsai” and contributes to extracurricular and cultural activities as a member of the Youth Festival Organizing Committee of the University of Mumbai and as Cultural Co-Coordinator for Sindhudurg District. At the institutional level, he serves as the Coordinator of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, Green Club, and the Cultural Department, and is also member of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC).