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Newsmakers of the Week AUGUST 29, 2025 | The Indian Eye 36

NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

Selected stories about Indian diaspora from our website www.theindianeye.com

Nishant Garg Appointed to Shishir Shah named

CTIA’s Leadership Council inaugural AI Officer by

University of Oklahoma

WASHINGTON, DC

ishant Garg, founder of Delta Enterprise USA and Telecom Institute of NORMAN, OK
New York, has been appointed to the CTIA’s prestigious Reverse Logis-
Ntics and Service Quality (RLSQ) Leadership Council. CTIA, the lead- he University of Oklahoma (OU) in a bid to expand AI-driven innova-
tion at the university and further a commitment to providing students
ing voice of the US wireless communications industry, announced Nishant’s Twith a leading AI education, has named Shishir Shah, Ph.D., as the first
appointment on August 1, 2025. university-wide Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, pending OU Regents’ ap-
CTIA said on its LinkedIn page: “We are excited to welcome Delta Enter-
prise USA, a subsidiary of Telecom Institute of New York, and their President proval.
Shah’s arrival comes at a defining moment for the university, as OU deep-
& CEO, Nishant Garg, to the RLSQ Leadership Council.” ens its focus on AI as a key priority of the “Lead On, University: The Next
Nishant Garg of New York City is a sterling success story that exemplifies
how vision, hard work, and dedication can shape an extraordinary journey. He Phase” Strategic Plan. By advancing university-wide strategy in AI innovation,
research, education and implementation, Shah will lead a charge to reimag-
traces his roots to Darjeeling in India, and Nepal. Arriving in America with little ine curriculum and academic opportunities to integrate AI across the student
more than ambition, Nishant began his career in 2000 as a wireless retail sales educational experience, guaranteeing that OU graduates enter the workforce
associate. Today, he is a prominent voice in the wireless, education, and sustain- as literate and responsible AI-users able to leverage the technology for max-
ability sectors, standing tall as a beacon of perseverance and purpose. imum impact.
He is actively involved in Indian American diaspora affairs and serves on the
Board of the Nepali Chamber of Commerce and Miss Nepal North America,
where he promotes cross-cultural collaboration and community representation. OU’s Data Institute for Societal Challenges, which develops con-
His appointment to CTIA’s RLSQ Leadership Council reflects his commit- vergent research teams to make advances in data science, AI
ment to industry innovation, inclusive education, and environmental responsibility.
“I am grateful to call Nick both a close colleague and a friend for many and machine learning, recently announced the award of nearly
years… I like to refer to us as the OGs in the wireless industry… We are grateful $200,000 in pilot seed funding to 20 AI-focused projects touch-
for Nick’s participation in our RLSQ Leadership Council at CTIA. Thank you,
Nick, we’re lucky to have you!” Michelle James, VP, Strategic Industry Pro- ing on topics from legal education to clinical imaging reports.
grams, CTIA.
A Wireless Industry Veteran, with a Holistic Mission Under Shah’s leadership, OU is poised to strengthen its role at the fore-
The wireless industry today is a cornerstone of modern life, enabling con- front of ethical and transformative uses of AI, expanding its global impact and
nectivity, productivity, and social mobility worldwide. Nishant Garg has built a capacity to address society’s most complex challenges.
multifaceted ecosystem under his powerful umbrella, including a nationwide Shah’s research expertise concentrates on computer vision and machine
wireless distribution network, a chain of wireless retail stores, repair and resto- learning, and he is an expert in person re-identification, human motion and
ration services that extend device life, electronics recycling programs that pro- behavior analysis, and microscope image analysis. His recent work addresses
mote environmental sustainability, and skill development and training, particu- real-world AI challenges, pushing the boundaries of adaptive, intelligent sys-
larly for the differently-abled and underserved communities. With over 20 years tems in complex environments.
of experience, he has advanced wireless access, affordability, and sustainability. Continued on next page... >>

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