The Biden administration has appointed two Indian-born experts in public service to key positions at AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteerism and service.
Sonali Nijhawan has been appointed Director of AmeriCorps State and National, and Sri Preston Kulkarni, 42, has been appointed the new Head of Foreign Affairs.
Although he ran for Congress twice without success in Texas, Kulkarni was certainly noticed by the leadership in Washington.
Kulkarni’s appointment, along with Nijhawan and Dan Kohl, reflects “the Biden administration’s commitment to diverse leadership,” according to the AmeriCorps statement.
In their roles, these leaders will use the service to support the administration’s agenda, focusing on four of the most pressing challenges of our time: COVID-19, economic recovery, racial equity and climate change, AmeriCorps said.
Kulkarni lost his race for the Texas District 22 seat in the US House of Representatives to former Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls in November as the Democratic nominee in a deeply Republican district.
Kulkarni brings a variety of public affairs and service experience to AmeriCorps, including 14 years as a foreign service officer with the State Department, where he specialized in public diplomacy and worked in public affairs and international information programs, completing tours in Taiwan, Russia and Iraq. , Israel, Jamaica and Washington, the statement said.
Nijhawan has committed his career to leadership development and the growth of national service. Most recently, she developed and served as CEO of Stockton Service Corps, a six-year, $ 12 million initiative to address local needs through AmeriCorps.
His professional background also includes extensive experience in education, AmeriCorps said in a press release.
Inspired by the AmeriCorps students, families, and community she met, she helped found City Year Sacramento and launched the organization’s 22nd site with 50 new AmeriCorps members.
Nijhawan also served as the director of Education Pioneers of California, where she recruited, placed, and supported managers in urban school systems and non-profit educational organizations, empowering people to challenge the status quo of our public education system.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in education and psychology from Marquette University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
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