Salaeha Shariff directs national outreach activities, recruitment cultivation, and diversity enhancement for the S&T Policy Fellowships. She plans and manages annual marketing efforts, and engages fellows in initiatives to promote careers at the intersection of science and policy. Salaeha also manages cross-cohort and alumni engagement activities to facilitate alumni fellow science policy engagement and connection to the program.
She joined AAAS in 2011, following five years with the American Academy of Pediatrics, Illinois Chapter, where she directed public health grants focusing primarily on immunization education and policy for Illinois pediatricians. There Salaeha managed committees and interest groups related to school health and infectious diseases, orchestrated state-wide educational programming, and recruited and trained pediatricians and allied healthcare providers to engage in policy initiatives related to pediatric health. She also has prior experience directing and managing operations for a small nonprofit educational organization.
Salaeha holds a master's degree in public service from DePaul University and an undergraduate degree in psychology from Loyola University in Chicago. She has a broad array of interests including international travel and as a “foodie” pursues culinary adventures wherever she roams.