Page 33 - The Indian EYE 052325

Newsmakers of the Week MAY 23, 2025 | The Indian Eye 33

for Collective Academic Excellence, a universitywide convergence strategy MANPREET KAUR
promoting interdisciplinary programs and collaborative research in areas
such as artificial intelligence, health, public policy and business. He also rep- Sikh Coalition welcomes as
resents Rutgers to the Association of American Universities and serves as a
senior member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance Board of Directors (Chief Education Director
Academic Officers).
Previously, Moghe served as provost and executive vice chancellor for
research and academic affairs at Rutgers–New Brunswick. He grew up in he Sikh Coalition is proud to an-
India, graduating from the University of Bombay with a degree in chemical nounce the name of Manpreet
engineering. He obtained his PhD in chemical engineering (bioengineer- TKaur as the Education Direc-
ing) at the University of Minnesota and completed postdoctoral training at tor. She has joined The Sikh Coalition
Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital before joining the in the month of May, 2025. In this role,
Rutgers faculty in 1995. she will be responsible for developing
“Dr. Moghe has a distinguished background as an educator, researcher and executing the organization’s strat-
and administrator. We’re delighted he will guide UT Dallas at it continues egy to push for a generational shift in
its great trajectory,” UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife Sikh awareness and make schools saf-
said. er and more inclusive for all students.
If appointed by the regents after the state-required 21-day waiting pe- Her job profile includes campaigns to ensure Sikhi is included in state stan-
riod for sole finalists, Moghe would succeed Dr. Richard C. Benson, who in dards and curricula across the country, develop lesson plans and other content
August announced his plan to transition back to a faculty role at UTD after that helps educators teach about Sikhs and Sikhi in accurate and appropriate ways,
the 2024-2025 academic year. Benson presided over UTD for nine years, promote relevant professional development for educators at all grade levels, and
marked by a successful era of impressive campus and academic growth. engage Sikh parents and students in pursuit of these and other related efforts.
Manpreet Kaur is happy to name Bakersfield her hometown, having grown
KAUSHIK BASU up in the Central Valley of California. Manpreet, who attended public schools
in the area, graduated from UC San Diego with a Bachelor of Political Science
degree with a minor in Law and Society. Manpreet graduated with two master’s
UN appoints Economist as co- degrees from the University of Wisconsin- Madison: one in public affairs and

chair of panel on GDP and beyond one in urban and regional planning.
In 2016, Manpreet founded the Kern County chapter of Jakara Movement,
a youth leadership development organization focused on the health and wellness
of the Punjabi Sikh population anchored in California’s Central Valley. The or-
he United Nations Secre- ganization educates Sikh youth about their heritage, explores challenges facing
tary-General announced on
TMay 8 that Kaushik Basu, them like gender equality, education and career pipelines, while preparing them
to be leaders in their communities. Today the organization has 70 registered high
the Carl Marks Professor of Inter- school clubs and 25 collegiate chapters spanning 15 California counties.
national Studies in the Department
of Economics in the College of Arts NAREN K. GURSAHANEY
and Sciences, and professor in the
SC Johnson College of Business, will
co-chair an independent “High-Lev- Penn State Board of Trustees
el Expert Group” to develop rec-
ommendations for measures that re-elects member
complement or go beyond Gross Do-
mestic Product (GDP). t a recent meeting, the Penn State Board of Trustees unveiled its newly
GDP is heavily relied upon as a
elected members. In his current role as a trustee representing business
gauge of prosperity and is the basis Aand industry, Naren K. Gursahaney was re-elected for this prestigious po-
for government targets and rankings, sition. Six trustees are elected by the Board of Trustees to represent business and
but it provides an incomplete picture industry endeavors. The terms of business and industry trustees are staggered so
of the different dimensions of sustainable development. that the terms of two trustees expire each year.
“In the world of economics, the GDP race—trying to outdo other nations
In 2025, the board re-elected Naren K. Gursahaney, former president, CEO
in terms of GDP—has become the big game, ever since Simon Kuznets de- and a director of ADT Corporation. He currently serves on the boards of Nex-
veloped the concept of GDP in 1934,” Basu said. “However, in today’s con- tEra Energy and Berwind Corp.
flict-ridden world, with sky-rocketing inequality, and dark clouds of climate A 1983 graduate of Penn State, Gursahaney has created scholarships and
disaster, it is not clear if this race is doing more good or harm. I am glad the excellence funds in the College of Engineering and College of Information Sci-
UN decided to do a stock-taking of this central measure of economic well-be- ences and Technology and provided support for the Student Veteran Center.
ing, and I look forward to participating in the exercise.” He serves on several advisory boards in the College of Engineering and
Basu was chief economist of the World Bank from 2012 to 2016, and chief
economic adviser to the Indian Government from 2009 to 2012. He served as across the University. He has been recognized with the Penn State Alumni Fel-
low Award, Distinguished Alumni Award and Outstanding Engineering Alumni
president of the International Economic Association from 2017 to 2021 and Award. Penn State’s 38-member Board of Trustees is composed of six members
has published widely in the areas of development economics, game theory, appointed by the governor, nine members elected by alumni, six members elect-
law and economics and industrial organization. His most recent books are ed by agricultural societies, six members elected by the board representing busi-
“Reason to Be Happy: Why logical thinking is the key to a better life” and ness and industry endeavors, one student trustee, one academic trustee, three
“Policymaker’s Journal: From New Delhi to Washington D.C.” at-large trustees, and the immediate past president of the Penn State Alumni
The Expert Group of 14 members will be tasked with elaborating a con-
ceptual framework that identifies key dimensions of progress and developing Association.
an initial list of corresponding country-owned, universally applicable indica- To read more about Indian diaspora and Global Indians, log on to and follow
tors of sustainable development to form a dashboard that equips governments our website www.TheIndianEYE.com
with the information they need.

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