Asha University of Pittsburgh E-Board
President: Swetha Jasti
Hello! My name is Swetha and I am a junior studying neuroscience and sociology with a Spanish minor. My third year as an Asha volunteer, I am serving as President and my responsibilities are to oversee the chapter operations. I am passionate about Asha’s mission to help those who lack education, which I believe is a fundamental right. I think that focusing our efforts on specific projects in India helps to foster real connections and helps us to directly make an impact. As a student-run chapter, we often take a step back to reflect on the opportunities that we have and why it is important to value the education we receive. I am hoping that the changes we make as a chapter and an organization overall can help to create systemic change in striving for a world where all children are able to go to school.
Vice-President: Vijay Vedachalam
My name is Vijay and I am a junior majoring in Biology and also starting my Masters in Public Health. I am the Vice President and my job is to ensure our goals for this year are met and exceeded by working with our board. I joined Asha for Education because the cause in providing education for children in India is very personal to me. When my father was growing up in South India, he struggled through poverty with his widowed mother and brother. He found refuge in his studies, and his focus on education is what brought him opportunity to rise from poverty and provide a better future for his family in America. I hope to create more awareness and to fundraise along with Asha for Education, so that children in India can have the same opportunities that my father had.
Secretary:Tanvi Darak
Hi! My name is Tanvi and I am a sophomore studying Economics-Statistics with a minor in Computer Science. This is my second year with Asha for Education and I am currently the Secretary for our chapter. I am passionate about Asha because I believe that fixing education issues is often the way to start making any kind of change in society. As someone who visits India every year, I feel that many social and economic issues in India stem from the education system; so much potential is wasted because there is a lack of means and opportunity. If I can help those kids in even the smallest way, I know that it eventually means more progress and innovation overall for India.
Business Manager: Prathyusha Pandu
I am a junior studying Microbiology and History and Philosophy of Science with a minor in Spanish. I am the business manager so I will be in charge of the finances this year. This is my second year as a part of Asha and I am excited for another year being a part of this organization. I joined Asha because learning about the social inequality and discrimination that still occurs there, I think that changing society by means of education is the best way to start. Furthermore, I like seeing donations directly impact specific schools in India, which ensures Asha as an organization is helping kids in impoverished areas to receive a quality education.
Asha University of Pittsburgh Board
Public Relations Chair: Carly Lapinski
I’m Carly and I’m a junior majoring in neuroscience. I joined Asha because I think that a good education should be available for all children and I love being a part of the change to make that a reality. My involvement in the organization has taught me many things about India also, increasing my global awareness. As PR chair, I hope to get other people interested in Asha and our events!
Freshman Chair: Jaspreet Singh
I’m Jaspreet Singh, a current freshmen, majoring in neuroscience and considering a theatre minor on the pre-med track. As freshmen chair, I serve to engage the freshmen class and assist the other members of the club in engaging and educating the wider community about ASHA’s value. I hope to help get the University students and the wider Pittsburgh community actively participate in fundraising and increasing awareness about educational inequities in India. My family originates from India, and my mother was the first women to attend college and become literate. My grandfather is the only person to get an education prior to my parents. This had an enormous impact on me for I realize that in other parts of the world, like India, the right to accessible education was not seen as a human right – but as a privilege. I am incredibly grateful for the educational opportunities I have been given and strongly believe that a quality education should be accessible for all children in the world.
Freshman Chair: Nidhi Iyanna
My name is Nidhi Iyanna and I am a freshman majoring in Neuroscience. I am currently the freshman chair for this chapter and I can’t wait to get involved! I am passionate about Asha for Education because I want to make a difference in children’s education in underdeveloped parts of India. While we are blessed to have a great education system here, there are so many children struggling in cities where access to education is scarce and the quality of education is low. Education is the key to success and is the stepping stone for a good career, technological innovations, and better life. Children who don’t have access to education will not be able to get good jobs, and the cycle of poverty perpetuates. I believe that “we have two hands: one to help ourselves and one to help others”. Asha seeks to extend a helping hand to the underserved and raise awareness of the quality of education in India.
Co-Fundraising Chair: Nitya Reddy
Hi everyone, I’m Nitya Reddy. I am a sophomore studying biology in hopes to become a doctor. I am the fundraising chair for this year. My main responsibilities are to come up with creative ways to raise money for our project as well as make sure our current fundraisers run smoothly. I am passionate about ASHA because I have seen how many schools are in India. I would like to allow kids in India to have the education they deserve in facilities that are safe for them.
Co-Fundraising Chair: Brunda Bellamkonda
My name is Brunda Bellamkonda, and I’m a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh. Currently I am a neuroscience major on the pre-med track. As fundraising chair, I organize events to raise money for ASHA. For much of the youth in this country, college has become a viable option. However, in many parts of India, children don’t even have the chance to get a primary education. My mission is to make a difference in the lives of children by helping them pave a path to an educated future. ASHA makes this a reality.
Outreach Chair: Shashwati Banerjee
My name is Shashwati, and I am a freshman majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Spanish. As outreach chair of Asha I look forward to engaging with other student organizations in an effort to raise awareness about education in India, as well as helping plan service events. I believe that education is very important and that everyone should have access to it. I joined Asha because I want to be a part of a cause that helps bring new opportunities to children who would lead very different lives without the education that Asha can help provide. I am excited to be a part of the Asha family this year!
Co-Awareness Chair: Hrishit Shah
Hi! My name is Srishit shah and I will be serving as the Awareness Chair of Asha for Education for the year 2018-19. I am a very outspoken person with good humor. My weekends mostly comprise of Netflix movies, TV shows and of course homework. (I’m no different guys). I’m passionate about asha as it gives me the opportunity to gain and spread knowledge at the same time. Asha is a very diverse club hence it helps me make connections and friendship that will last a lifetime. Hope to have a great year with Asha. Peace out
Co-Awareness Chair: Raghav Gupta
My name is Raghav Gupta and I’m a sophomore majoring in the Biological Sciences. Last year as a freshman chair, I made Asha’s presence felt at Pitt (and beyond), encouraged people to attend GBM’s, and helped the eBoard with everything. This year, as the Awareness Chair, I hope to continue doing the same as I and my co-chair set agendas for the meetings, lead the discussions, and come up with awareness ideas. Having in the suburbs of Delhi for 14 years and having directly worked with kids from underprivileged backgrounds, joining Asha was a no-brainer for me. I understand my privilege and feel strongly about the income & education inequality. Besides, my experiences so far have only cemented what I know will be lifelong interest in education. Let’s do this!
