Shikha Acharya

Shikha Acharya is a Research Associate at Kentucky State University, where she started her role in January 2024. She holds a Master’s in the Human Dimension of Natural Resources from the University of Missouri and has over four years of experience in conservation, program management, and stakeholder engagement, with work spanning both Nepal and the United States. 

At KSU, Shikha primarily coordinates the undergraduate STEM Research Program, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) NextGEN initiative. She manages all aspects of the program, from student hiring and orientation to matching students with faculty mentors and supporting their research projects through completion. She also coordinates student participation in conferences, field trips, workshops, and national and international programs. She organizes biweekly meetings for undergraduate researchers, offering training sessions, bringing in guest speakers, and overseeing end-of-semester presentation events. Recently, she coordinated a 15-day experiential learning trip to Nepal for 10 students, handling logistics as well as providing them with hands-on learning, cultural experiences, and professional development opportunities. 

Shikha enjoys supporting students’ growth, helping them become researchers, and developing essential career skills. Beyond her work with students, her research interests focus on wildlife conservation, community-based initiatives, and applying program management strategies to design programs that promote sustainable human-wildlife coexistence. In her free time, she enjoys reading, practicing yoga, and traveling.