NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Atlanta, GA, July 15, 2025: Dr. Paddy Sharma, a well-known Atlanta-based educator, entrepreneur, and humanitarian, has been named the first recipient of the prestigious Jeff Warlick Foundation Award, presented by Rotary International. The award recognizes a Rotarian whose global impact and commitment to service reflects the spirit and legacy of the late Jeff Warlick, a champion of Rotary’s international mission.
The award was created to honor individuals who embody Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” through sustained global outreach, particularly in Foundation work. Dr. Sharma’s hands-on involvement in Rotary’s polio eradication campaign, including her international service trips to deliver vaccines, played a major role in her selection. She has also been instrumental in supporting the Rotary-led Kenyan Water Project, serving as a source of wisdom and encouragement throughout the year.
A past president of the Rotary Club of Lake Spivey, Clayton County, and founder president of the Emory Druid Hills Rotary Club, Dr. Sharma has long been a powerful voice for global service. Her philanthropic efforts span continents—from organizing medical and relief camps in India and Nepal to spearheading the construction of restrooms in rural schools and donating transportation vans to underserved hospitals.
With a doctorate in psychology and a deep-rooted passion for education, Dr. Sharma has made significant contributions in the academic world. She formerly chaired the Psychology Department at Tennessee Temple University and currently serves as a Trustee on the Clayton State University Foundation Board. In 2001, she launched an international teacher recruitment program that brings highly qualified educators to U.S. schools, enriching classrooms with global perspectives.
Together with her husband, Dr. Chandler Sharma, she also co-founded the FI HI (Finish High School) Hope Foundation, which provides financial and academic support to at-risk students, helping them complete their high school education. She is actively involved in promoting STEM education across developing nations and is a founding member of a STEM model school in India.
Beyond education, Dr. Sharma has held key leadership roles in various Indian American cultural and religious organizations in Georgia, including the Indian American Cultural Association (IACA), Sanatan Mandir, and the Hindu Temple of Atlanta. Her entrepreneurial ventures have also been recognized—her company, Data Point Systems Inc., received the Georgia Minority Business Technology Industry Award.
In 2009, her contributions were acknowledged by the state with a proclamation naming her an “Outstanding Georgia Citizen.”
