Dr. Rajendra D. Shinde is the first non-Christian Principal in the 156-year history of St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. A distinguished botanist, educator, and researcher, he has served the institution for over 42 years in various capacities.

Before becoming Principal in 2018, Dr. Shinde worked as the Herbarium Curator for eight years and as a Lecturer, Reader, and Associate Professor for three decades. He currently leads the Botany Department and serves as Director of the internationally recognized Blatter Herbarium. As a research guide in Botany, he has mentored seven PhD students and successfully completed five government-funded research projects. His academic contributions include 55 research papers published in reputed national and international journals, one patent, and authorship of two books, along with contributions to three others.

Dr. Shinde has played key administrative roles at St. Xavier’s College, including Vice-Principal, Director of International Programmes, and Controller of Examinations under the Autonomous system. His leadership has led to the introduction of four new postgraduate programs, four PhD centers, a new undergraduate program, three additional divisions, and an NCC program. Under his tenure, the college consistently ranked among India’s top 100 institutions in the NIRF rankings and has been named the top private autonomous college in India by EducationWorld Magazine for five consecutive years.

Beyond academia, Dr. Shinde has held influential positions at state and national levels. He was Chairman of the Board of Studies for Botany and served on multiple academic and research committees under the University of Mumbai. He has also contributed to biodiversity and environmental conservation initiatives, including serving as a board member of the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board and the Government of India’s Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority. His efforts were instrumental in conducting the first tree census of Mumbai and Thane.

Dr. Shinde is a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship and the Rotary International Group Study Exchange Programme. In recognition of his leadership, he received the Extraordinary Leadership Award from the EducationWorld Higher Education Grand Jury Awards (2020-21). Additionally, he has been honored with the Best Principal Award by the University of Mumbai.