By Keerthi Ramesh
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed Indian American educationist Anupa Shantaram as a public member to the Michigan Board of Pharmacy for a term running through June 30, 2030, subject to state Senate confirmation.
Shantaram’s appointment was announced with appointments of several other professional leaders from across Michigan to ten state boards and commissions to oversee key public policy, safety, and agricultural initiatives.
Shantaram currently serves as a school improvement coordinator at Flint Community Schools and holds a parallel role as the diversity, equity, and inclusion commissioner for Genesee County.
Shantaram earned a Bachelor of Science in education with a concentration in social science, followed by a Master of Arts in early childhood education, both from the University of Michigan.
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In her new state regulatory role, Shantaram will join the board responsible for regulating pharmacy practices under the Michigan Public Health Code to protect public health and safety across the state.
The governor also appointed Salim Lodhi of Hamtramck to serve on the Michigan Citizen-Community Emergency Response Coordinating Council as a public memberthrough Dec. 31, 2030.
Lodhi works professionally as a lead software engineer and software engineering manager at Accenture. Lodhi completed his undergraduate education at Wayne State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in information systems management, before obtaining a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.
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On the emergency response council, Lodhi will contribute to coordinating disaster preparedness, mitigation strategies, and response standards among government agencies and private sector organizations.
The latest appointments also feature leaders across agriculture and community governance. Additional appointments were made to the Committees on Juvenile Justice, Soybean and Wheat Promotion, the Blueberry Commission, the Farm Produce Insurance Authority, and the Elevator Safety Board.
The appointments aim to bring local field expertise into state governance, supporting regulatory oversight and public administration across Michigan communities.