Page 32 - The Indian EYE 030124

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline MARCH 01, 2024 | The Indian Eye 32

With more than 15 years of ex-
ANANTHA CHANDRAKASAN perience in grassroots organizing
Dean is MIT’s Chief Innovation and political campaigns, Patel joins
Impact from End Citizens United/
and Strategy Officer Let America Vote, where he served
as Vice President of Political Af-
fairs. There, he oversaw and directed
the organization’s political strategy
across federal and non-federal races,
helping win over 350 campaigns up
and down the ballot and cultivating
relationships with community stake-
holders.
Previously, Patel served as a
political consultant, where he devel-
oped and executed winning direct mail campaigns, and as political and field
directors for numerous campaigns.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Chintan Patel as our new Execu-
tive Director,” said Deepak Raj, co-founder, and Narendra Mulani, chair, of
Indian American Impact. “In elections across the country this year, Indian
Americans are making historic gains in representation and can again make
the crucial margin of victory. Chintan’s wealth of expertise in political strategy,
voter mobilization and candidate support will be instrumental in driving our
mission forward.”
Chintan Patel echoed the board’s enthusiasm and said, “I am honored to
join Indian American Impact at this critical moment for our country and our
communities. The 2024 elections present an important opportunity for Indi-
nantha Chandrakasan, dean of the School of Engineering and the Van- an and South Asian Americans to have our voice heard in our Democracy. I
nevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science,
Ahas been named as MIT’s first chief innovation and strategy officer, while look forward to working with the talented staff and exceptional board to build
upon the organization’s success and move our candidates and communities
he will continue to serve as dean of engineering. forward.”
As chief innovation and strategy officer, Chandrakasan will work closely
with MIT President Sally Kornbluth to advance the ambitious agenda that she ASHWIN RAMASWAMI
has laid out in the first year of her presidency. He will collaborate with key
stakeholders across MIT, as well as external partners, to launch initiatives and 24-year-old to run for Georgia
new collaborations in support of these strategic priorities.
“I was immediately impressed by Anantha’s can-do attitude and his clear
interest in working with us to develop and advance our priorities for the In- senate seat
stitute,” President Kornbluth says. “With his signature energy, creativity, and
enthusiasm, he has a gift for organizing complex initiatives and ideas and mak-
ing sure they move forward with alacrity. Combined with his strategic insight,
deep knowledge across many subject areas, and terrific record in raising funds
for important ideas, Anantha is uniquely suited to serve MIT in this new role,
and I’m delighted he has agreed to take it on.”
In his new role, Chandrakasan will help develop and implement plans to
advance research, education, and innovation in areas that President Kornblu-
th has identified as her top priorities — such as climate change and sustain-
ability, artificial intelligence, and the life sciences. He will also play a leading
role in efforts to secure the resources needed for MIT researchers to pursue
bold work in these key areas.
“I am thrilled and honored to help advance President Kornbluth’s vision
for MIT in this new role,” Chandrakasan says. “Working closely with faculty,
staff, and students across the Institute, I am excited to help shape and launch
initiatives that will accelerate research and innovation on some of the world’s
most urgent needs. My hope is to enable our researchers with the support,
resources, and infrastructure they need to maximize the impact of their work.”

CHINTAN PATEL shwin Ramaswami has become the first Indian-American from Gen Z
to run for a federal legislature in the US. Ramaswami’s parents, who are
Indian-American is appointed as Aboth IT professionals, immigrated to the US from Tamil Nadu in 1990.
“My parents both came to the US in the 1990s. They both came from
executive director of Impact Tamil Nadu. My mom is from Chennai, my dad is from Coimbatore. I’ve al-
ways grown up with Indian culture and also American culture growing up as
well. I’m a Hindu. I’ve been very interested in Indian culture philosophy my
ndian-American Impact announced the appointment of Chintan Patel as whole life,” he said. Generation Z (also known as Zoomers) encompasses
its 4th Executive Director. A veteran campaign and political operative, Pa- those born between 1997 and 2012.
Itel will lead Indian American Impact alongside 3rd Executive Director and Ramaswamy is a second-generation Indian-American built a career in
now-President, Neil Makhija, into the 2024 elections and beyond. Continued on next page... >>

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