Susmita Roye, an Indian-American associate professor of English at the Delaware State University, has been named as a recipient of the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) Award for Faculty.

The award has been given in recognition and support of her current book manuscript project, which is about the women writers of India during British rule (1757-1947). She has tentatively titled the book “Mothering India”.

Roye will receive financial support from the grant award, which will enable her to take some time off from teaching to finish the book.

She was one of only eight people to receive the award out of 101 applications, according to an announcement on the university website.

The NEH, an independent federal agency created in 1965, is one of the largest funders of humanities programmes in the US.

Previously, Roye co-edited and contributed a chapter to the book “The Male Empire under The Female Gaze”, which explored the perspective of British white women amid British rule of India.

Roye, who did her MPhil in English from the University of Calcutta in 2006 and PhD in English in 2011 from Britain’s University of Bristol, has been a faculty member of DSU since 2011.

Her research interests include “Women’s Writing, World Literature, Gender and Imperialism, Anglophone Literature of the World, Post/Colonial Literature, Orientalism, Race and Ethnic Studies, and Cultural Studies”.

Source: Business Standard

Dr. Suneeta Krishnan, a social epidemiologist at RTI International, has been nominated to the World Health Organization’s Gender and Rights Advisory Panel.

The Indian American will be one of 12 panel members serving a three-year term.

The Gender and Rights Advisory Panel was set up in 1996 with the mandate to examine the Department of Reproductive Health and Research’s work from a gender equality and human rights perspective, and to give guidance on these issues in the field of sexual and reproductive health.

The views and recommendations of the panel are presented to the department’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Group that reviews research and technical support activities and recommends priorities for the Department’s future work.

Krishnan is a social epidemiologist specializing in community-based research in developing countries. For more than a decade, she has conducted research that aims to uncover the pathways through which gender inequalities lead to adverse health outcomes and health disparities and to develop and test interventions that promote health and gender equity.

Her studies focus on the intersections between gender inequalities, violence, and women’s health over the life course.

She has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, private foundations, and the World Bank to conduct research on gender-based power and prevention of intimate partner violence, HIV, cervical cancer, and other adverse women’s health outcomes, and to provide technical assistance for the development, implementation, and evaluation of women’s health promotion programs.

Krishnan holds a doctorate and master’s degree in epidemiology from the University of California at Berkeley. She is currently based in India and is RTI India’s technical lead. Krishnan is also associate director of RTI’s recently launched Global Gender Center.

In recognition of her research and community service, Krishnan a 2004 U.S. Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

Krishnan has authored or co-authored book chapters, peer reviewed journal articles and technical reports focused on violence against women, HIV/AIDS, and gender inequities.

Source: IndiaWest

The US Senate has confirmed an Indian-American Arun M Kumar to a key administration post that would make him responsible for foreign trade.

“I am pleased that the US Senate has confirmed Arun Kumar as Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service at the International Trade Administration (ITA),” Commerce Secretary, Penny Pritzker, said.

“In this role, he will lead the agency’s efforts to assist and dvocate for US companies in international markets. Promoting US trade and investment is crucial to remaining globally competitive, which is a key priority of our ‘Open for Business Agenda’,” the Commerce Secretary said.

The nomination of Mr Kumar, till recently a partner and member of the Board of Directors at KPMG LLP, was confirmed by the Senate by a voice vote.

From 2005 until his retirement in September 2013, Mr Kumar led the firm’s West Coast Finance Management Consulting practice.

He also led the firm’s US-India practice from 2007 to 2013. Mr Kumar joined KPMG in 1995 as a Finance Management Leader.

From 1993 to 1995, he was the founder and CEO of Planning & Logic, Inc, a software company.

Mr Kumar received a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Kerala in India, and an SM in Management from the Sloan School of Management, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US.

Source: NDTV

The US Senate today confirmed Indian-American Puneet Talwar to a key diplomatic position in the State Department.

So far a key aide of President Barack Obama on the Middle East, Talwar would now serve as the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs.

After being sworn-in, Talwar would be the second Indian American serving as assistant secretary in the State Department after Nisha Desai, who is the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.

It was in September last year that Obama had nominated Talwar, who played a key role on negotiations with Iran, to this top diplomatic position in the State Department.

Talwar would provide policy direction in the areas of international security, security assistance, military operations, defense strategy and plans, and defense trade.

The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs is the Department of State’s principal link to the Department of Defense.

Since 2009, Talwar has been a Special Assistant to the US President and Senior Director for Iran, Iraq, and the Gulf States on the White House National Security Staff.

Prior to this, Talwar served as a Senior Professional Staff Member on the Committee on Foreign Relations of the US Senate (SFRC) from 2001 to 2009 and from 1997 to 1999, and was the chief advisor on the Middle East to then Senator Joseph R Biden in his capacity as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

He served as a member of the Department of State’s Policy Planning Staff from 1999 to 2001.

From 1992 to 1995, he served as a foreign policy advisor to Representative Thomas C. Sawyer, and from 1990 to 1992 as an official with the United Nations.

He received a B.S. From Cornell University and an M.A. from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Source: Business Standard

US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) as a bipartisan organization has always been known for its inimitable activities towards encouraging Indian-Americans to voice their political concerns for more than a decade now. It has achieved a lot for the community by representing and initiating relevant discussions on issues affecting the community leading to appropriate solutions. It has supported many deserving Indian-American electoral candidates in the past and not just Indian Americans, USINPAC has always supported candidates who have an inspirational record and Tulsi Gabbard is one of them. She happens to be the youngest woman in the U.S. to be elected to a state legislature, Hawaii. In 2012, she made headlines as she took the oath of office over a Bhagavad Gita that she claims happens to be her spiritual guide. Exemplary, inspiring, and motivating to a whole generation of Indian-American and multicultural youth, she currently serves as a Military Police Company Commander with the Hawaii Army National Guard.

Looking at Gabbard’s portfolio, it is simply exceptional and versatile. She is the first American-Samoan, the first Hindu member, and one of the first female combat veterans in the American Congress. Going back, in 2002, she first ran for Hawaii’s 42nd House District of the Hawaii House of Representatives. She emerged winner in the general election defeating Republican Alfonso Jimenez. She represented the Oahu 42nd District. During this time, she became the youngest legislator ever elected in the history of Hawaii and the youngest woman elected to state office in the country. During her stint, she spearheaded the resolution of issues including dengue fever, medical waste, and the creation of jobs. In 2004, she moved on to volunteer for National Guard service in Iraq.

In 2012, Tulsi Gabbard decided to bid for the House. USINPAC has supported her right from the start of the campaign. She won the general election on November 6, 2012 by defeating Republican Kawika Crowley and her stance on the empowerment of women is well-known. She has been vocal about the state allowing women to serve in all military roles including combat. She has also served on two deployments to the Middle East. She is pro-affordable healthcare services that would reduce the risk of unwanted teen pregnancies. Another feather-in-the-cap among her many accomplishments is her support towards healthcare and education programs and initiatives for Native Hawaiians. What is truly laudable from Tulsi’s contribution is her work towards relaxing outdated visa restrictions, especially concerning those from India and China.

Her father, Mike Gabbard is a Democratic member of the Hawaii senate and is a practicing Catholic of European-Samoan origin. She believes that her election gives hope to young American Hindus who ‘can be open about their faith, and even run for office, without fear of being discriminated against or attacked because of their religion. Multi-faced Gabbard is also a martial arts instructor.

USINPAC supports Gabbard in the upcoming elections as she represents values, diversity, and synergy associated with the Indian-American community. It has in the recent past supported Dr. Ami Bera, Latha Mangipudi, Kamala Harris, Dr. Swati Dandekar, and several other stalwarts who have influenced the progress of Indian-Americans in public service. It supports candidates for federal, state, and local office who understand the concerns of the Indian-American community and address them on priority. With a robust network of people, ideas, and progress, it encourages participation from individuals from various walks of life. Therefore, come, join, and set a paradigm for your society to follow.