America
Obama names IIT alumnus to Asian American advisory body
Washington, May 9
President Barack Obama has
named a Nepalese-origin MBA from the Indian Institute of Technology as a
member of President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders (AAPI).
With members hailing from all over the
US and from a wide range of disciplines, the Commission works with
all the agencies of the federal government to improve the health,
education and economic status of AAPI communities, including Indian
Americans.
Naming Sanjita Pradhan with 13 others to key
administration posts, Obama said, "These men and women bring
extraordinary dedication to their roles and will serve the American
people well. I look forward to working with them.a¿
According
to a White House announcement Pradhan has a BA from the Institute of
Agriculture and Animal Science in Nepal and an MBA from the IIT.
She
is currently the Executive Officer of the Office of Asian and Pacific
Islander Affairs at the Iowa Department of Human Rights, a position she
has held since 2013.
From 2010 to 2013, Pradhan served as
Resettlement Director at Catholic Charities of Des Moines, Iowa. She
was previously the Employment Coordinator of Lutheran Services of
Iowa's Refugee Cooperative Services from 2009 to 2010.
From 2007 to 2008, Pradhan was Marketing Coordinator at Principal Financial Group.
She
has served on numerous volunteer and community organizations,
including as Commissioner of the West Des Moines Human Rights Commission
and as a Member of the Greater Des Moines Partnership's Diversity and
Inclusion Council.
Pradhan also serves on the Advisory Board for the Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Centre.