WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) Board of Directors appointed Ms. Ishani Chowdhury of Washington D.C. as its first full-time Executive Director. Leaving her previous employment as a Lead Project Manager at a Washington, D.C. based software firm, Chowdhury takes over most major administrative, public relations and fundraising coordination tasks at HAF. In addition, she will utilise management experience to shepherd various ongoing long-term projects at HAF.
?HAF has fulfilled one of its long-term goals?to bring on a talented, articulate and creative individual?who has the potential to take HAF into the top tier of human rights and faith-based organisations,? said Mihir Meghani, M.D., President of HAF and member of the HAF Board. ?HAF has taken its first step towards establishing a permanent presence in this nation'scapital with an executive director devoted to HAF'sgoal of putting forth a professional and credible voice for Hindu Americans,? he added.
Beyond supervising various ongoing human rights projects, media outreach efforts and database management Chowdhury'stasks will include bringing a consistent Hindu American voice to Capitol Hill, the White House and non-governmental organisations in Washington, D.C. She will attend relevant hearings on the Hill, interact with congressional offices and oversee communications with such groups as the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Plans are on to open the first full-time office dedicated to Hindu American affairs in Washington, D.C. later this year.
?I had come to admire HAF'srapid rise on the political and educational scene in a span of just three years, and was searching for ways to contribute to the foundation,? said Ms. Chowdhury. ?This opportunity will allow me to bring the skills I acquired as a programmer, analyst and project manager?and my passion for this cause and movement?to HAF,? she added.
Ms. Chowdhury received a Bachelor'sdegree in Computer Information Systems from Baruch College in New York City. Ms. Chowdhury has written and spoken extensively on issues relevant to Hindu Americans and human rights atrocities against Bangladeshi Hindus. She has written frequently for Hinduism Today and served as a Hinduism school teacher at the Sri Beenapani Vedic School in Brooklyn, New York.
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