Biography of Dr. Sharma
Narendra P. Sharma, PhD
Chair, Board of Directors

Dr. Narendra P. Sharma is currently a consultant specializing in applied economic development and finance, public policy and project analysis, environmental management, and organizational effectiveness. He has a PhD in economic development from Virginia Tech University, as well as an MS from Rutgers, an MEM from Duke University, and a BS from the University of Hawaii. Dr. Sharma, originally from the Fiji Islands, is a US citizen and lives in Hilton Head Island with his wife, Martha. They have one daughter who resides in Kings Mountain, North Carolina.

Dr. Sharma worked for more than 32 years at the World Bank in Washington, DC, where he was involved in finance and economic development in more than 50 developing countries in Asia and the Pacific, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and Africa. He has traveled widely throughout the world and has a broad international perspective on and understanding of social, economic development, and environmental issues at the global, regional, national, and local level. He has over 30 years experience in management, and in dealing with high ranking government civil servants, international and regional policy forums, multi- and bilateral development agencies, non-governmental organizations, and businesses.

Dr. Sharma has also been involved in teaching and research. He was Adjunct Professor in Duke University’s School of the Environment (1991-2005) and has more than 25 years of experience in training and mentoring of people. For a brief period (2005-2006 academic year), he was Director of Community Outreach, University of South Carolina, Beaufort, (USCB).

Currently, he is actively involved in the LowCountry community, serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Neighborhood Outreach Connection (NOC), a non-profit organization whose mission is to fight poverty by helping people in need to achieve the “American Dream.” In the past four years, he has served as a member of the School Improvement Council of the Hilton Head High School, as the Vice President for programs of the Hilton Head World Affairs Council, and as a member of the Board of Directors of Port Royal Plantation.

He has a special interest in addressing poverty and development issues in the LowCountry and South Carolina.
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