South Asian Spotlight

Sakhi Patel and Shrey Modi’s AI-powered startup, CuraVoice, took the top prize at California State University Long Beach’s 2025 Sunstone Innovation Challenge. Their innovative voicebot helps healthcare students improve patient communication through realistic, adaptive simulations. The team earned $15,000 in seed funding and over $35,000 in support services. CuraVoice stands at the intersection of AI and medical education, addressing critical gaps in bedside communication training.

Harshman Sihra, Rishi Shah, Ojas Sanghi, and Dhruvak Mirani are among 54 students selected as 2025 Truman Scholars for their leadership, academic achievement, and dedication to public service.

Slippery Rock University names Prasad Vemala as the new dean of its College of Business. With decades of experience in academic leadership, Vemala steps in to guide SRU’s AACSB-accredited programs.

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan announces a major leadership overhaul, naming Sachin Katti as CTO and Chief AI Officer to lead the company’s AI strategy and innovation efforts.

Dr. Manohar Singh has been appointed as the 12th Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, bringing a wealth of experience in higher education leadership. Learn about his background, vision for student success, and leadership at WCSU as he prepares to lead UWO into its next chapter starting July 1, 2025.

Shweta Rawat joins the Americares Board of Directors, bringing over a decade of experience in global health, disability inclusion, and social impact leadership.

Santa Clara University will award an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree to Arista CEO Jayshree Ullal at its 2025 undergraduate commencement.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign honors Professor Ruta Mehta with the 2024 Campus Award for Excellence in Guiding Undergraduate Research for her mentorship in theoretical CS.

Bharat N. Anand, Harvard vice provost and digital strategy expert, has been named the next dean of NYU Stern School of Business. He will assume the role in August 2025.

Georgia Southern University names Dr. Avinandan Mukherjee as its new provost and executive VP for academic affairs. With over 16 years of leadership experience, he aims to drive academic excellence, research, and student success.

JK Tech appoints Sameer Nagpal as its new President & CEO to drive AI-driven transformation. With 25+ years of expertise, Nagpal will enhance JK Tech’s AI solutions and expand its global market presence.

The University of Arkansas appoints Indrajeet Chaubey as its next Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, effective July 1, 2025. Chaubey, a renowned expert in hydrology and higher education leader, brings decades of experience to the role.

UNC Greensboro appoints Dr. Joyendu Bhadury as Dean of the Bryan School of Business and Economics, recognizing his leadership, academic excellence, and commitment to student success. Read more about his vision and impact.

Indian origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams returns to Earth after a 9-month mission. Her journey highlights resilience, space travel challenges, and pride for the Indian diaspora. Read more.

Professor Kaushik Sengupta’s groundbreaking AI-driven research on wireless chip design earned the prestigious IEEE Award.

Indian-American physician & bestselling author Abraham Verghese will deliver the principal address at Harvard’s 374th Commencement

Panera Bread appoints Santhosh Kumar as Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective February 12. With extensive experience in digital transformation and retail technology, Kumar will lead Panera’s IT strategy, enhancing operations across 2,200+ cafes.

Dr. Prabhleen Chahal becomes the first in Texas to earn the prestigious Master of ASGE (MASGE) title, recognizing her excellence in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Kash Patel becomes the first Indian-American FBI Director, marking a historic moment for South Asian representation in U.S. law enforcement.

Dr. Senthil Sadhasivam has been appointed as the UPMC Endowed Chair in Anesthesiology Research Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh, recognizing his groundbreaking work in opioid pharmacogenetics, perioperative pain management, and patient safety.

Yale University appoints historian Sunil Amrith as the new director of the MacMillan Center. A leading expert in migration and environmental history, Amrith aims to expand global scholarship and interdisciplinary collaboration at Yale.

Indian-American scientist Ashutosh Chilkoti wins the 2025 Technology Innovation and Development Award from the Society for Biomaterials for his groundbreaking work in biomaterials.

Two Indian American students, Venkataram Sivaram and Prasann Singhal, have been honored with the 2024-2025 CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award for their exceptional contributions to computing research.

Indian-American musician and entrepreneur Chandrika Tandon wins a Grammy for her soul-stirring album blending Vedic chants with global music.

Gunjan Kedia becomes the first woman CEO of U.S. Bancorp, succeeding Andy Cecere. With nearly 30 years in finance, she brings a vision of growth, integrity, and innovation.

Kush Desai, an Indian-American former journalist, has been appointed as White House Deputy Press Secretary by President Trump. With extensive experience in political communications, Desai played a key role in messaging for battleground states.

Indian American physician-scientist Pari V. Pandharipande, MD, MPH, FACR, has been announced as the next Chair of the Department of Radiology at Penn Medicine, effective June 1, 2025.

Five Indian American educators win Presidential Awards for STEM teaching, driving change, and inspiring the next generation.

Jay Parikh, an Indian-origin tech leader and former Meta executive, takes charge of Microsoft’s new CoreAI division. Know how he’s shaping AI innovation with groundbreaking platforms and tools under Satya Nadella’s vision.

SDSU names Dr. Sen Subramanian as dean of the College of Natural Sciences, highlighting his leadership and research excellence.

Apple appoints Indian-origin Kevan Parekh as its new CFO, succeeding Luca Maestri from January 2025. Parekh brings over a decade of leadership experience at Apple and a strong global finance background.

Indian-origin entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan has been appointed as Senior Policy Advisor for AI in the Trump Administration. Know his inspiring journey from Chennai to shaping U.S. AI policies alongside David Sacks at the White House.

Ishpreet Singh appointed as CIO of Black Duck Software to lead technology strategy, drive digital transformation, and enhance cybersecurity. Learn more about his role and vision.

Know how Bharat Biswal revolutionized brain imaging with resting-state fMRI, advancing research on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and neural connectivity. Learn about his impactful work and the prestigious NJIT Excellence in Research Award.

Broadridge appoints Ashima Ghei as CFO, recognizing her strategic leadership and proven expertise. Ghei aims to drive innovation, growth, and shareholder value through disciplined financial management and sustainable strategies.

Indira Gunda Saladi, founder of Orchard, Inc., and an advocate for women in tech, has been appointed to the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Board of Trustees. An alumna of Illinois Tech, Saladi is dedicated to mentoring future leaders and advancing opportunities in technology and business.

Dr. Pooja Khatri, an internationally recognized stroke expert, has been appointed Chair of the Department of Neurology at Yale School of Medicine, effective April 1, 2025. She will lead the department in advancing patient care, research, and education in neurology.

Dr. Darshana R. Patel, an Indian-origin scientist and community leader, is sworn in as California’s 76th Assemblymember. Her journey from biotech to politics inspires South Asians, highlighting perseverance, education, and breaking cultural barriers in leadership and governance.

Bumble Inc. has appointed Indian American Neil Shah to the newly created role of Chief Business Officer, a key leadership position

Jay and Jyoti Chaudhry’s $4 million donation to the University of Cincinnati establishes the Chaudhry Family Scholarship Fund, empowering first-generation, Pell-eligible students through the Gen-1 1MPACT House.

Know how Reshma Saujani’s My So-Called Midlife podcast is redefining midlife for women. Ranked among TIME’s best podcasts of 2024, Saujani’s candid conversations with influential guests empower women to embrace midlife as a time of growth and reinvention.

Four Indian American scholars, Ayush Noori, Anushka Nair, Aneesh Muppidi, and Om Gandhi are selected for the prestigious 2025 Rhodes Scholarship to pursue advanced studies at the University of Oxford.

Dr. R. Panneer Selvam, a civil engineering professor at the University of Arkansas, has been honored as an ASME Fellow. Recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to wind engineering, computational modeling, and disaster resilience.

Six Indian Americans, including Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai, feature in Fortune’s 2024 list of the 100 Most Powerful People in Business, showcasing the global impact of South Asian talent in innovation, leadership, and transformation.

Know the six Indian-origin artists nominated for the 67th Grammy Awards, including Ricky Kej, Anoushka Shankar, and Varijashree Venugopal. Know about them and the impact on the global music scene.

News Corp announces Lavanya Chandrashekar as its new CFO, effective January 1, 2025. With nearly 30 years of global finance experience, Chandrashekar joins from Diageo, bringing leadership in digital transformation and growth.

DigiCert appoints Lakshmi Hanspal as Chief Trust Officer, highlighting South Asian representation in tech leadership. Hanspal brings extensive cybersecurity expertise from roles at Amazon, Box, and PayPal, set to drive DigiCert’s digital trust initiatives forward.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces Prabhakar Raghavan as Chief Technologist, marking a significant moment for the South Asian community and leadership in the tech industry.

Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of Robinhood, launches Aetherflux, a space-based solar startup aiming to revolutionize energy distribution by harnessing solar power from space. Discover how this innovative venture impacts the South Asian community.