Dr. Benazir Meera

Assistant Professor, Department of Exercise Sciences and Recreation
Lehman College – City University of New York (CUNY)

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Dr. Benazir Meera is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Sciences and Recreation at Lehman College – CUNY. Her interdisciplinary training and research focus on promoting health equity and improving the quality of life for individuals aging with and into disability, particularly those from underserved and underrepresented communities.

Before joining Lehman College, Dr. Meera was a Postdoctoral Associate in the Geriatric Health Services Research Lab at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she also earned her Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a specialization in Motor Control and Behavior. She holds an M.S. in Global Sports Management from Seoul National University and a B.E. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, India.

Her research explores the design, implementation, and evaluation of community-based and non-pharmacological interventions, including physical activity programs, adaptive horseback riding, and technology-supported health behavior change tools. Dr. Meera specializes in mixed methods and community-based participatory approaches to advance inclusive health promotion strategies. She has led and contributed to several grant-funded projects, and her work is published in leading journals across aging, disability, and physical activity sciences.

Dr. Meera is committed to mentoring future scholars and practitioners and aligns closely with the mission of advancing inclusive and community-engaged kinesiology. Her work is recognized nationally through invited talks, presentations, and media features.

Outside academia, she is an avid runner, enjoys music and dancing, and spends most of her downtime with her golden retriever, Jelly. Dr. Meera is also a former athlete of the Indian National Short Track Speed Skating team.

Education

• Ph.D. in Kinesiology (Motor Control & Behavior), University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA (2019–2023)
• M.S. in Global Sports Management, Seoul National University, South Korea (2016–2018)
• B.E. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Visvesvaraya Technological University, India (2010–2016)