Dr. Sharmin Kader is an Assistant Professor in the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning at Ball State University. Her research focuses on therapeutic healthcare environments, evidence-based design, and mixed-method post-occupancy evaluation methodologies. Dr. Kader earned her Ph.D. in Architecture through the Health and Wellness Program at the University of Kansas and received her master’s degree from Texas A&M University, along with a Certificate in Health Systems and Design. She also served as a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the Healthcare Design Program at Kent State University.

She developed the Hospice Environmental Assessment Protocol (HEAP), the first post-occupancy evaluation tool for hospice care environments. The tool has been widely cited and used internationally and was later adopted in federally funded Canadian research. Dr. Kader has received numerous awards and recognitions. She previously served as Chair of the Board of the Environmental Design Research Association and currently co-chairs a subcommittee of the Academy of Architecture for Health Webinar Committee.