Will take over from Deepa Iyer, in February.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: Suman Raghunathan has been chosen as the new Executive Director of The South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) organization, effective February 3rd of this year.
The announcement of Raghunathan’s appointment came today, in the form of a press release put out by SAALT. In it, board of directors co-chair Nitasha Sawhney says “[Raghunathan] has the optimal combination of skills, experience, and ability to connect to people that will deepen SAALT’s social change mission and expand our reach. She is a passionate advocate who is sure to identify and implement strategic and innovative opportunities to amplify the voices of South Asians in the United States.”
Raghunathan said in a statement that she is “thrilled and humbled” by the appointment to lead SAALT, saying “As a daughter of Indian immigrants who has been anchored in the immigrant rights movement, I believe wholeheartedly in the importance of South Asians playing a critical role to work towards inclusive and responsible public policies in our nation on issues ranging from civil rights and xenophobia to health access and gender equity.”
SAALT has been a longtime advocate for immigrant rights and immigration reform in the US. It is a non-profit organization that represents persons of Indian origin in America, and its goals consist of “conducting public policy analysis and advocacy; building partnerships with South Asian organizations and allies; mobilizing communities to take action; and developing leadership for social change.”
Brought up in the US, Raghunathan earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations from Brown University and her master’s degree in non-profit management from the Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy in New York City. She has worked at the American Civil Liberties Union, the New York Immigration Coalition, and was an executive director (and longtime board member) of Chhaya Community Development Corporation, also in New York City.
She will be replacing current Executive Director Deepa Iyer, who will remain at her post through the end of January.
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com