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Newsmakers of the Week MARCH 28, 2025 | The Indian Eye 28

SHRINA KURANI DR. HITESH VORA

Executive appointed as Deputy Professor honored with Emerging

Manufacturing Leaders award
Director of Venture Capital in CA

r. Hitesh Vora, associate professor in the Division of Engineering Tech-
nology in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
D(CEAT) at Oklahoma State University, has been recognized with the
prestigious Emerging Manufacturing Leaders Award. The award was present-
ed during a luncheon at Tulsa Technology Center on Thursday, Feb. 27, cele-
alifornia Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced the appoint- brating his contributions to the manufacturing industry in Oklahoma.
ment of Shrina Kurani, of Riverside, as Deputy Director of Venture
“Receiving the Emerging Manufacturing Leaders Award is a tremen-
CCapital at the California Infrastructure and Economic Development dous honor. Manufacturing plays a crucial role in driving economic growth,
Bank. innovation, and workforce development,” Vora said. “I am grateful for the
Kurani has been a Venture Specialist at the California Infrastructure and
Economic Development Bank since 2023 and a Managing Partner at SNØ- opportunity to contribute to this industry by empowering students, fostering
sustainable practices, and collaborating with industry partners to enhance
CAP since 2022. She was Vice President of Business at Republic from 2018 to energy efficiency and operational excellence. This recognition reaffirms my
2022. Kurani was an Associate at Better Ventures from 2017 to 2018. commitment to advancing manufacturing and preparing the next generation
Kurani’s investment experience includes facilitating over $175M with
Better Ventures, Republic, and SNØCAP. Before joining IBank, Shrina built of professionals to lead with innovation and sustainability.”
The Emerging Manufacturing Leaders Award honors individuals who
multiple companies and ran for United States Congress in 2022 on a climate have made a significant impact on the manufacturing industry in the state.
and innovation platform. Vora currently leads the Energy Efficiency Hub at the OSU, which in-
Kurani co-founded SNØCAP, an early-stage venture fund focused on
deeptech climate solutions and is on the board of Grid110, a non-profit orga- cludes multiple federally and state-funded centers: Industrial Training and
Assessment Center (ITAC), Great Plains Center of Excellence (GPCoE) and
nization serving underrepresented entrepreneurs across Southern California. the Rural Energy Assessment Center.
She was on the executive team at Republic, democratizing access to cap-
To help drive the future of manufacturing, Vora has played a pivotal role
ital through new regulation and technology, and launched the Cities program in strengthening the manufacturing sector through technical expertise, work-
to serve founders in underinvested regions beginning in Riverside, CA.
force development, and sustainable solutions.
Technical Assistance & Cost Savings: Through tailored energy-efficiency rec-
She earned a Master of Science degree in Environmental Stud- ommendations, Dr. Vora has helped manufacturers improve operations, saving

ies and Sustainability Science from Lund University, Sweden’s top over $137 million (14.79 TBtu) in recommended cost savings. Under his leader-
ship, OSU ITAC has achieved key national milestones in industrial assessments.
university for sustainability, and a Bachelor of Science degree in
Mechanical Engineering from her hometown’s University of Cali- DR. NIRAV SHAH
fornia, Riverside. Colby College names

California Gas Company, and after conducting her master’s thesis research epidemiologist as Visiting Faculty
Kurani’s first engineering projects were with NASA and the Southern
in carbon sequestration of biomass in the Mediterranean, Kurani became in-
volved in the United Nations Climate Change Conferences following the Par- r. Nirav D. Shah, the epidemiologist who rose to national prominence
is Agreement at COP21. She has since participated in international climate during the Covid-19 pandemic as director of the Maine Center for Dis-
negotiations in Marrakech, Bonn, Katowice, and Glasgow. Dease Control & Prevention, will join Colby in the fall as a visiting pro-
This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensa- fessor in the Department of Statistics. Shah will teach courses on public health
tion is $165,000. Kurani is a Democrat. Continued on next page... >>

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