Meet the Minds Behind IJMEER

Dr. Nusrat Ali Hashmi is a distinguished legal scholar, High Court Advocate, and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Multidisciplinary Explication and Emerging Research (IJMEER). Holding a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Law, she represents the gold standard of integrated legal professionalism — where scholarship informs practice, teaching shapes advocacy, and institutional leadership creates pathways for others to flourish.

Dr. Hashmi's academic pedigree includes a professorship at Government Law College, Mumbai — founded in 1855 and recognized as the oldest law school in Asia — a distinction that speaks to her extraordinary scholarly standing. She served as Principal at two institutions: the Shivajirao S. Jondhle Institute of Law and Research in Mumbai and Oriental College of Law, where she led curriculum design, faculty management, moot court programs, and academic event organization. She also served as Head of Department at both MATS University and ITM University, and as Assistant Professor and Guest Faculty at numerous leading law colleges across India.

As Editor-in-Chief of IJMEER, Dr. Hashmi oversees the entire publication pipeline — ensuring academic rigor in peer review, maintaining high editorial standards, and steering the journal's scholarly direction. As Legal Advisor to the Meer Foundation, she provides strategic legal counsel on matters ranging from constitutional compliance to social impact initiatives. She continues to practice as a Advocate at the Mumbai High Court, bringing her extensive jurisprudential knowledge directly to bear in complex legal proceedings.

Dr. Hashmi's research interests span criminal law, evidence law, procedural law, artificial intelligence and law, fraud and misrepresentation, women's rights, constitutional remedies, and legal services for marginalized communities. She has published more than 25 research papers in refereed journals addressing critical areas including cyber laws, fraud, consumer rights, judicial reform, violence against women, and constitutional remedies. Her commitment to lifelong learning is evident through active participation in workshops and conferences organized by the UGC, UNICEF, and various international jurist conferences. She is proficient in English, Hindi, and Urdu, enabling effective engagement with diverse legal communities.

Sayed Amir Mustafa Hashmi, widely known as Amir Hashmi, is a National Award-winning filmmaker, author, singer-songwriter, actor, and social entrepreneur who serves as the President of Meer Foundation and the Founder and Managing Editor of IJMEER. His life's work represents a rare convergence of artistic expression, academic publishing, grassroots activism, and environmental restoration — all aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Born into a family of government officers, Hashmi grew up immersed in the literary traditions of Persian and Urdu poetry inherited from his grandfather, alongside the dynamic energy of the Hindi film industry. He began performing at an early age, developing a holistic creative identity that would later manifest across filmmaking, songwriting, and social storytelling.

Hashmi's most distinguished achievement came through his short film "Mirror of the Clean India," which received a National Film Excellence Award from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India — jointly awarded by the National Film Development Corporation of India and Doordarshan. His filmography is characterized by socially conscious storytelling: "Culture of Silence" addresses human trafficking, "The Journalist" exposes forced labor, and "GANGREL – Across The Mahanadi River" documents cultural landscapes of Chhattisgarh.

Hashmi's most remarkable environmental achievement is the Bolti Nadi (Save River Initiative), launched in 2016. He personally walked the entire 90-kilometer stretch of the Sakri River, mobilizing communities, local governments, and organizations to restore a river that had died due to encroachment and pollution. Under SDG 1 (No Poverty), Meer Foundation's Farmour initiative has reached approximately 1 lakh households across 12 districts in Chhattisgarh, empowering marginalized rural women through sustainable economic models.

As an extension of Meer Foundation's commitment to education, Hashmi founded the International Journal of Multidisciplinary Explication and Emerging Research (IJMEER) in 2025 — a quarterly, open-access, peer-reviewed journal publishing groundbreaking research at the intersection of multiple disciplines. As Managing Editor, he oversees the journal's strategic direction, operational management, and global outreach initiatives.

Dr. Mary Lou Frank is a distinguished psychologist, mediator, and educator whose career spans over three decades at the intersection of psychology, conflict resolution, and higher education leadership. Currently serving as Part-Time Instructor in Psychology at Middle Georgia State University, she is also the Co-founder of Transforming Mediation, LLC and former President of the International Academy for Dispute Resolution (2018–2020).

Dr. Frank earned her Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University, where she later completed a Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counseling. Her clinical internship was completed at the University of Delaware. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech (Communication) with Distinction, and a Certificate from Harvard Advanced Negotiations for Executives at Harvard University.

At Middle Georgia State University, Dr. Frank teaches Abnormal Psychology, Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy, and Neuroscience. She holds concurrent appointments at Brenau University (Adjunct Faculty since 2013), Mercer Law School (Adjunct Faculty since 2021, teaching mediation), and previously served as Adjunct Faculty at Mykolas Romeris Law School, Vilnius, Lithuania (2022–2024), bringing U.S. mediation expertise to European graduate legal training. She is also a Fellow at the University of Georgia's McBee Institute for Higher Education.

Dr. Frank has served in multiple vice-presidential and dean-level roles in higher education, including Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and College Dean at Middle Georgia State University (2011–2013), Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Gainesville State College (2006–2010), and Dean of Students at Valdosta State University (2001–2006). She was also Director of the Eating Disorders Program at Arizona State University (1988–1992) and served as CEO of the Athens Community Career Academy (2010–2011).

Prof. (Dr.) Ashok L. Sunatkari is a distinguished physicist, academic administrator, and researcher who currently serves as the In-Charge Principal and Professor & Head of the Department of Physics at Siddharth College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Fort, Mumbai — an institution affiliated with the University of Mumbai that dates back nearly eight decades to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's vision of education as the greatest equalizer.

Dr. Sunatkari holds an M.Sc. in Physics, a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), has qualified the State Eligibility Test (SET), and holds a Ph.D. in Physics. Since 1999, he has served as Associate Professor (now Professor) at Siddharth College, accumulating over 27 years of teaching experience encompassing graduate and postgraduate curricula in physics, experimental laboratory design, and materials science.

As In-Charge Principal, Dr. Sunatkari leads an institution that has achieved a NAAC "B+" Grade for 2024–2025, listed under Sections 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act. He has championed continuous upgrading of facilities and the introduction of value-added courses meeting modern professional demands. As Head of the Department of Physics, he leads a team of four Assistant Professors and eight technical support staff.

Dr. Sunatkari's research specializes in synthesis of metal nanoparticles (gold, silver) by reduction methods and semiconductor nanoparticles (ZnS, CdS, ZnO, CuO) by chemical co-precipitation methods. He has received a UGC research grant of Rs. 1,50,000 (File No. 47/1690/10) for a minor research project. He is a member of the Optical Society of America (OSA, 2013–2014) and holds lifetime membership in the Indian Physics Association. He serves as a reviewer for several prestigious international physics journals and has designed and fabricated experimental kits for B.Sc. practicals. He also served as an NSS Programme Officer (2005–2009), heading a group of 220 students in social activities.

Adv. (Dr.) Ashok Yende is a distinguished legal academician, mediator, and practitioner whose career spans over 44 years across administration, teaching, and the legal profession. Currently serving as Professor and Dean of the ATLAS School of Law at ATLAS SkillTech University in Mumbai, he represents the highest tier of integrated legal professionalism — combining academic leadership, Supreme Court mediation, and prolific scholarly output.

Dr. Yende's educational qualifications are among the most distinguished in India's legal academia. He holds an LL.B. from Nagpur University, an LL.M. from the University of Mumbai, a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Pune, and a Doctor of Literature (D.Lit.) in Law — the highest possible academic qualification in law, demonstrating extraordinary contribution to legal scholarship. He has further enhanced his expertise through a Harvard Kennedy School Public Policy Designing program executive credential.

The ATLAS School of Law, approved by the Bar Council of India and part of India's first urban, multidisciplinary skills-based university, blends law with business, technology, and innovation. Under Dr. Yende's visionary leadership, the school emphasizes hands-on experiential learning, preparing graduates for emerging global industries at the intersection of law and emerging technologies.

Before joining ATLAS, Dr. Yende served as Professor and Head of the Department of Law at the University of Mumbai — one of India's oldest and most prestigious universities. During this tenure, he established a Pre-litigation Center and pioneered an ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) course in 2015, demonstrating his foresight in recognizing mediation as an essential skill for the next generation of lawyers.

Dr. Yende is an empanelled Mediator with the Supreme Court of India and the Bombay High Court — among the most selective rosters in Indian legal practice — and has successfully resolved complex disputes referred by the Bombay High Court and the Maharashtra State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission. He also serves as Lokpal (Ombudsperson) of Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai, and as Managing Partner of Yende Legal Associates.

Dr. Yende serves as President of the Global Vision India Foundation, an NGO with consultative status with the United Nations, placing him at the intersection of grassroots social action and global policy discourse. He is proficient in Hindi, English, and Marathi.

Prof. (Dr.) Karuna Akshay Malviya is an eminent legal academician, researcher, and institutional leader who serves as the Director of the D Y Patil University School of Law (DYPSOL) at D Y Patil Deemed to be University, Navi Mumbai — a premier legal institution under the leadership of Chancellor Dr. Vijay D. Patil. A certified mediator and holder of a Ph.D. in Law awarded with a UGC Senior Research Fellowship, she brings a rare combination of doctoral excellence, institutional administration, international exposure, and clinical legal education expertise to IJMEER's editorial leadership.

As Director of DYPSOL, Dr. Karuna leads a dynamic law school at the forefront of medico-legal education in India. In January 2026, under her leadership, DYPSOL entered into a strategic academic partnership with the Institute of Medicine & Law (IML) to advance medico-legal education, research, and patient advocacy — a pioneering initiative bridging medicine and law.

Before joining DYPSOL, Dr. Karuna held several key positions at MNLU Mumbai, one of India's premier national law universities. She served as Director of Clinical Legal Education — supervising the integration of real-world legal practice into the curriculum, preparing students for frontline legal service. She served as Head of the Department for Research, overseeing doctoral programs and scholarly publications. She was also appointed as Principal Investigator for Maharashtra in a Pan India Project on Prison Reforms by the Centre for Research in Criminal Justice at MNLU Mumbai — a landmark study shaping national criminal justice policy.

Dr. Karuna demonstrated her commitment to global legal education by taking 40 students to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands — a transformative academic initiative bridging national and international legal spheres. She has successfully guided four research scholars to doctoral completion and appraised over 20 Law Ph.D. theses across multiple specializations — a remarkable contribution to building India's next generation of legal scholars.

Dr. Mohammed Salim Khan is a distinguished legal academician, researcher, and ADR practitioner who currently serves as Assistant Professor – Senior Scale at the Presidency School of Law, Presidency University in Bangalore. With over 25 years of combined academic and professional experience — including significant corporate exposure alongside academic appointments — he represents a new generation of interdisciplinary legal scholars who seamlessly bridge theory and practice.

Dr. Khan holds a Ph.D. in Law and an M.Phil. in Law awarded with a Gold Medal — the highest distinction for academic excellence at the postgraduate research level, reflecting his mastery of advanced legal research methodologies. Beyond law, he holds an MBA in Operations Management and an MA in Rural Development — a unique combination enabling him to approach legal problems from multiple disciplinary perspectives, enriching both research and teaching with insights from business realities, rural governance, and development economics.

At Presidency School of Law, Dr. Khan teaches Sports Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Business Law, and Constitutional Law — courses at the cutting edge of emerging legal fields. His research interests are broad and contemporary, encompassing Arbitration, Mediation, Constitutional Law, Sports Law, Animal Law, and Intellectual Property Rights. His specialization in Sports Law examines legal frameworks governing sports organizations, athlete rights, doping disputes, contract negotiations, and arbitration. His work in Animal Law addresses wildlife conservation statutes, the legal status of animals as sentient beings, and intersections with environmental and criminal law.

Dr. Khan is an active arbitrator, mediator, and trainer, bringing dispute resolution expertise to both academic and professional settings. His scholarly work has been published by major international publishers including IGI Global Scientific Publishing (with offices in the USA, UK, and China), Routledge, and prominent Indian publishers — making his research available to global legal academia.

Dr. Momin Ali serves as an Assistant Professor of English at the Department of Humanities and Sciences, MLR Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, India. With a strong academic foundation from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and specialized training from The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad, Dr. Ali represents a new generation of language educators who bridge traditional English Language Teaching (ELT) with contemporary applied linguistics, curriculum innovation, and international research collaborations. His scholarly work addresses the intersections of language pedagogy, teacher education, inclusive classrooms, and the role of English in shaping academic progression for rural learners.

Dr. Ali earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in English Language Teaching from the Department of English at Aligarh Muslim University, one of India's most prestigious central universities. His doctoral research contributed original insights to the field of ELT, examining pedagogical practices and learner outcomes in the Indian context. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communicative English (Honours) and a Master of Arts (MA) in English Language Teaching, both from AMU.

He has obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Linguistics from the Department of Linguistics at AMU, broadening his understanding of language structure, phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics. He also holds a Post Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of English (PGCTE) and a Post Graduate Diploma in the Teaching of English (PGDTE) from The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad, India's premier institution for English language teacher training.

Dr. Ali joined MLR Institute of Technology on February 10, 2024, as a Regular Assistant Professor. In this role, he teaches English language and communication skills to engineering students, emphasizing English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP). His commitment to professional development ensures his teaching remains informed by the latest theoretical insights and empirical findings.

Prof. (Dr.) Jyotirmaya Thakur is a distinguished poet, author, editor, academician, and social activist with over 34 years of professional experience in education, administration, curriculum development, and literary mentorship. A retired Principal who has dedicated her life to the empowerment of students, women, and marginalized communities through education, literature, and humanitarian service, she is a globally recognized literary figure with more than 200 awards to her credit.

Prof. Thakur's expertise spans English literature, poetry, creative writing, linguistics, and communication skills. Her specializations include curriculum design and management across CBSE, ICSE, and IGCSE boards, academic administration, educational outreach, personal development, student empowerment, strategic planning, psychological counseling, creative writing, and public speech training. She is a certified Grand Reiki Master, Karuna Reiki Master, and HFHE (Holy Fire III Healing) Master, reflecting her holistic approach to personal development and well-being.

Prof. Thakur is the author of twenty-three books, with many more awaiting publication. Her works have been translated into multiple languages and featured in international anthologies. She serves as a reviewer, columnist, and editor for various literary publications, contributing to global literary discourse on poetry, prose, and contemporary social issues. Her poetry explores themes of human existence, spirituality, nature, women's empowerment, social justice, and peace.

She holds that literature and poetry are essential to human life as a means of expressing emotions, providing a link with intelligent culture, and serving as a vessel of revolt against mainstream society for marginalized groups. She emphasizes that poets and writers have a responsibility to give hope in a world marked by wars, poverty, and the absence of empathy.

Beyond her literary contributions, Prof. Thakur is a committed philanthropist and social activist who works with NGOs to address the physical and mental needs of people affected by conflict, poverty, and displacement. She advocates for peaceful means to promote individual liberty, equality, and human rights, using her voice as a poet and writer to champion these causes globally.

Dr. Anupama Patel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Law at Bhanupratap Dev Government PG College Kanker, Chhattisgarh, India. Holding a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Law, she brings 4 years of dedicated teaching experience to the IJMEER editorial team as a member of the International & Special Board Members.

Dr. Patel teaches law at the post-graduate level, contributing to legal education in the Chhattisgarh region of central India. Her position at a government institution reflects her commitment to accessible legal education and scholarship, ensuring that quality legal training reaches students across diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

As a member of IJMEER's International & Special Board Members, Dr. Patel contributes her expertise in legal scholarship to the journal's peer review and quality assurance processes, strengthening the journal's coverage of legal and socio-legal research domains.

Prof. (Dr.) Mona Purohit is a distinguished legal academician, researcher, and author who serves as the Dean and Head of the Department of Legal Studies and Research at Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal. With over three decades of experience in legal education, she has established herself as a transformative figure in curriculum development, legal research methodology, intellectual property law, environmental law, cyber law, and judicial process. She holds the remarkable distinction of being recognized as the youngest person to attain an LL.D. (post-doctorate) in Central India.

Dr. Purohit holds a Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), a post-doctorate degree awarded in 2020 for her thesis titled "Patenting of Biotechnological Products in India: Challenges in Harmonisation of the Conflicting Interests." She earned her Ph.D. in Law in 2004 for her thesis "Critical Study of Wildlife Laws and Its Impact on Tribes." She holds an LL.M. in Modern Legal Studies (1998), an LL.B. (1996), and a B.Sc. (1993). She also holds a Certificate in Computer Education from the State Council of Education Research & Training, Madhya Pradesh.

As Dean and Head of the Department of Legal Studies and Research — established in 1982 and offering B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), LL.M., Ph.D., and LL.D. degrees — Dr. Purohit has lead curriculum modernization, mandatory weekly presentations, legal literacy camps, moot court competitions, and placement assistance. She has served as Head of Department (April 2010–December 2013; April–December 2014; since June 2019), Dean of the Faculty of Law (since June 2019), and Member of the Executive Council of Barkatullah University (since August 2020). She also served as Consultant for a two-year NLIU and UNFPA project on the PCPNDT Act.

Dr. Purohit has supervised 14 Ph.D. candidates, with five additional scholars currently under her guidance. She also supervised an ICSSR post-doctoral fellowship on "Legal Study of Sexual Harassment at Workplace." She has presented at international conferences including the XIX ISA World Congress of Sociology in Toronto (2018), the 5th International Congress of Environmental Research in Malaysia (2012), and the 2nd International Conference in Goa (2015).

Dr. Ranu Shukla is an economics-trained academic professional who served as a Project Officer in the domain of Adult and Continuing Education at Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. She voluntarily retired from her position in April 2019 after a period of dedicated service. Her work connects economic understanding with community development, literacy, and capacity-building initiatives, reflecting a commitment to university-led social responsibility and community engagement.

Dr. Shukla holds a Ph.D. in Economics, equipping her with analytical tools for understanding complex developmental challenges, evaluating policy interventions, and designing evidence-based programmes for socio-economic upliftment. Her academic orientation is situated within development-linked domains such as education outreach, socio-economic empowerment, and institutional programme implementation.

As Project Officer in Adult and Continuing Education, Dr. Shukla administered adult and continuing education programmes, facilitating educational outreach for non-traditional learners — including neo-literates, school dropouts, women, rural populations, and other marginalized groups. These initiatives aligned with national priorities on literacy, lifelong learning, and inclusive education.

Dr. Shukla contributed to programmes intersecting education with economic empowerment, particularly in regional and community contexts. By integrating economic perspectives into educational programming, she helped design interventions addressing both the supply side (educational opportunities) and the demand side (economic incentives for participation). Her project coordination encompassed field-level work, documentation, monitoring and evaluation, and stakeholder engagement with government agencies, NGOs, and community leaders.