Houston: Two Indian-origin experts in public service have been appointed by the Biden administration to key positions at AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteering and service.
Sonali Nijhawan has been named Director of AmeriCorps State and National, and Sri Preston Kulkarni, 42, was appointed the new Chief of External Affairs.
Despite having run for Congress twice unsuccessfully from Texas, Kulkarni was certainly noticed by the leadership in Washington.
His appointment, along with Nijhawan and Dan Kohl’s, reflects “the Biden administration’s commitment to diverse leadership”, according to a release by AmeriCorps.
In their roles, these leaders will use service to support the administration’s agenda, focusing on four of the most urgent challenges of our time: coronavirus, economic recovery, racial equity, and climate change, the 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.
Sri Preston Kulkarni brings a variety of experience in service and public affairs 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, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica and Washington, the statement said.
Nijhawan has committed her career to developing leaders and growing national service. Most recently, she developed and served as the executive director of Stockton Service Corps, a six-year, $12 million initiative to address local needs through AmeriCorps.
Her professional background also includes extensive experience in education, AmeriCorps said in a press release.
