Fahima Islam is the Director, Perception Lab, at Perception Institute. Fahima works closely with client stakeholders to implement internal needs assessments with a focus on equity and belonging. In her role on the Assessment team, Fahima utilizes mixed methods (climate & belonging surveys, focus groups, and/or interviews) to surface key insights and develop context-specific recommendations for organizations. Fahima synthesizes and translates academic research to inform Perception’s Mind Science Workshops and to generate public-facing research reports. She also contributes to the evaluation of story and representation with content creators, with attention to stereotype tropes.

Fahima is committed to social justice and inter-cultural understanding. She has a background in international development and has worked on social and environmental impact initiatives to support local populations in South Asia. Her work has helped stakeholders mobilize people and capital to sustainably rebuild communities and invest in education. She has also endeavored to bring attention to climate change’s disproportionate impact on women and children in order to drive equity. As a Project Implementation Officer, Fahima cultivated relationships with international partners to develop disaster resilience in vulnerable areas and to promote child safety within Rohingya refugee communities. Her work has spanned across racial, socioeconomic, gender, health, environmental and religious equity concerns.

Fahima earned her MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and her BA from New York University’s College of Arts & Science. She is based in Brooklyn, New York.