BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The National Indo-American Museum Board of Directors is a diverse community of activists, professionals, scholars, business people and artists.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT AND TREASURER
Kishori Dattani is a co-founder & CFO at Prime Care LTC, that is focused on long term care services. She has immense passion for philanthropic endeavors. She has served as president of La LaSalle County Easter Seal Society and as a treasurer of Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce and of Delta Theta Tau Philanthropic Society. She has been serving as a president of Falling Water Home Association for last 8 years. Kishori was born in Uganda & moved with her family to the U.S. in 1970. She lives with her husband, Deepak, in Burr Ridge, Il. She and her husband have two children and two grandchildren. Kishori has a BS from USC.
SECRETARY
Beverly Furtado is a Learning & Development professional, with a certification in E-learning Instructional Design, from UCI. She is the founder and President of her company GYAN Talent Solutions Inc. which addresses the learning needs of corporate clients in the areas of behavioral and skill-based training. As a first generation immigrant, Beverly is passionate about social causes in an effort to give back to the community. She serves as a board member for non-profits and volunteers her free time handling communications, marketing, writing/developing/managing content for these organizations – including animal rescues in the US and children’s education in India. Beverly is proud to be a part of the NIAM family since 2018. She lives in Northbrook, IL with her husband Sanjeev and their rescue fur-baby Dorie.
PAST PRESIDENT
Deven Kane is an attorney practicing in the Chicago area and specializing in corporate law and commercial transactions including representing businesses and their owners. He has provided pro bono services to Indian cultural and heritage non-profit organizations including the National Indo-American Museum. Deven received his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Finance and Accounting from Texas A&M University in 1997 and graduated cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2000. He has a keen interest in history and numismatics and is a member of the Board of the Chicago Coin Club.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Nisha Chottepand-Floyd serves as Vice President and Associate Director of Community Development for Woodforest National Bank®. Nisha supervises the Bank’s Community Development Team that works closely with communities across 17 states to develop and enhance partnerships with local organizations serving low- and moderate-income (LMI) individuals and businesses. Additionally, she successfully generates Community Development lending, investment, and service opportunities responsive to the needs of residents and businesses in Woodforest’s Illinois and Indiana Assessment Areas. Her efforts helped Woodforest receive an Outstanding rating for its 2015-2019 Community Reinvestment Act Exam. Nisha also manages regulatory, credit risk, profitability, and impact through the Community Reinvestment loan portfolio she manages for the Bank. Nisha has served as Treasurer of the Aurora Public Library Foundation since 2019. She is also Co-Founder of the Molly Malone Chottepanda Foundation supporting the Southwest Minneapolis Community through educational scholarships for females focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The foundation has distributed $100,000+ in grants to date. Nisha received her bachelor’s degree in business management from Purdue University, and an MBA from University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign, IL.
Abhilasha Ganju has retired from her 35 year practice of Allergy Immunology and now immerses herself in the vibrant worlds of painting and nature photography. Her current study of visual art is as intensive as were her medical studies at AIIMS, India. She volunteers as a painting teacher at the Peoples Resource Center. She has served as president of the Illinois Allergy Society, and as treasurer for the Alliance of Fine Art in the western suburbs, as well as on the research committee of the Society of Art in Healthcare. Her serene nature photographs offer solace to patients in numerous hospitals all over the USA. Believing in constant learning and growth, Abhi enjoys reading, dancing, music, philosophy, hiking, travel and more.
Devalina Law received her Ph.D. from University of Minnesota. Currently she is a Senior Research Fellow at AbbVie Inc. and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Apart from being passionate about the science that enables drug development, she is equally passionate about mentoring and teaching thus regularly volunteers for organizations such as United Way, RefugeeOne, Tutoring Chicago etc.
Tasneem Osmani is a Senior Vice President at Northern Trust Bank. She has been in the financial services industry for more than 25 years. A Certified Public Accountant with an MBA from Depaul University, she is passionate about empowering women and youth by providing them opportunities to help them reach their potential. She serves on the Board of Trustees at Benedictine University, where she has been a trustee since 2008, and currently serves as the Treasurer of the Board and Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee. Tasneem was born in India and moved to the US with her family when she was 10 years old.
Padma Rangaswamy has a Ph.D. in History and a Master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is an historian and author of many books, journal articles and encyclopedia entries on Indian Americans. Among her major publications are Namasté America: Indian Immigrants in an American Metropolis, a comprehensive study of Asian Indian immigration, and Indian Americans, a secondary level reader chronicling the achievements and struggles of Indian immigrants in North America. She has taught courses on Immigration History, World History and Global Cultures at leading Chicago-area universities and is passionate about preserving, documenting and promoting the understanding of Indian American history and culture.
Sujaya Rupani migrated to USA in 1980 after graduating from Gandhi Medical College, Osmania University, and has practiced Ophthalmology in Chicago since 1985. She has served on the board of Avery Coonley School for 11 years, and chaired the annual giving campaign.
Aarathi Agadi Singh is Chief Operating Officer of MedGyn, a medical device manufacturer based out of Addison, IL that is focused on women’s health. She is dedicated to improving access to quality healthcare for women globally, including her involvement with non-governmental organizations in India and Africa. Aarathi is a second generation Indian and passionate about her heritage, particularly ensuring that her culture has a platform to both sustain and thrive in the United States. Aarathi completed her Arangetram and remains involved with Bharatanatyam by helping her two daughters complete their training. She lives in Hinsdale, Il with her husband, two daughters, and son. Aarathi has a BS from Boston University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
Rita Yadava Dr. Rita Yadava, a Child Neurologist, has dedicated over three decades of her life to the well-being of young patients in the Oak Brook area. As of late, she has transitioned into semi-retirement. Beyond her medical practice, Dr. Yadava has actively engaged with her community. She has served as the Medical Director of Easter Seals DuPage, demonstrating her dedication to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities. Additionally, her commitment to the education and well-being of children with autism is evident through her role on the Board of Directors at Giant Steps School for Autism. Furthermore, Dr. Yadava has contributed to preserving the cultural heritage of her Indian roots by serving on the Board of Directors for the National Indo American Museum, ensuring that the rich history and traditions of the Indo American community are celebrated and shared. Dr. Yadava is not only a healer but also an advocate for public safety and community well-being. Outside of her professional and advocacy work, Dr. Yadava enjoys reading, dancing, and traveling, demonstrating her love for culture, learning, and the exploration of new places.
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NIAM PAST BOARD MEMBERS
Gyan Agarwal Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. He is a graduate of University of Roorkee (Now IIT Roorkee) and Ph.D. from Purdue University. He has been a volunteer at the Indo-American Center (IAC) and a founding member of the National Indo-American Museum (NIAM) board since 2007. He has served NIAM board as vice-president (2007-2009), treasurer (2009-2016), and now as member of the Governance Committee.
Bapu Arekapudi, MD was the museum’s first treasurer. A pulmonologist in Chicago, Illinois, he is active in many community organizations and served on the board of the Indo-American Center.
Amita Banerji, has over twenty years of experience in international relocation management and cross-cultural training, working until recently in the corporate sector. She spent several years working in Venezuela where she started an English as Second Language (ESL) School for professionals and children. She is passionate about sharing the heritage of immigrant cultures and the need to record and foster understanding between these groups.
Mannan Bandukwala, a retired Chemical Engineer, was educated in Pune and Mumbai, India and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. A pioneer, he arrived in Chicago in the 1950’s, and was a regular volunteer in IAHM activities.
Nafisa Bandukwala is a former Chicago Public School librarian who grew up in Mumbai and earned her M.A. at the University of Iowa. She is a regular volunteer in museum cultural outreach programs.
Tamara Biggs, currently Director of Exhibitions at the Chicago History Museum and a former president of the museum Board, has been making exhibits for more than 30 years. She is especially interested in community-generated projects.
Happie Datt, came to the U.S. in 1970 to earn an MS in Food Science at the University of Florida. Since moving to Chicago she has owned several successful businesses, was president of the League of Women Voters, served two years for Peace Corps in Macedonia, and currently volunteers as a docent at Field Museum.
Madhoolica Dear is a serial entrepreneur and design professional whose journey has taken her from designing textiles to now designing websites. Owner-founder of OrangeSpike Inc, she helps small businesses grow their online presence. She is passionate about the values and the rich heritage of India and served as Board President from 2015-2017.
Ebin C. Ephrem is entrenched in the constantly emerging, constantly changing world of mobile (cellular) technologies, devising and executing on go-to-market strategies for some of the world’s premier enterprise, network and broadcast customers.
Bindu Ganga is a clinical therapist. She conducts local and international leadership trainings and works to advance public awareness and knowledge of perinatal mood disorders.
Ann Lata Kalayil served as the first woman president of the Indo-American Democratic Organization. She is co-founder of the South Asian American Policy and Research Institute (SAAPRI) and is active in Asian American community organizations.
Harshad Khatri is a Senior Director in Infor’s strategy practice, and has been helping clients drive business value through digital solutions across numerous industries globally. Harshad has a Mechanical Engineering degree from I.I.T. Kanpur, an MS from Rutgers University and an MBA from the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania. He began his career in the automotive industry and since moving to Chicago in 1995 has been focused on Management Consulting and Software Strategy. He frequently publishes in industry journals and speaks at conferences on industry and technology challenges.
Shailja Dhruva Khatri is the founder of VividhBharati for families of Indian origin to keep their children in touch with Indian culture and languages. A former president of the museum Board, she is a program manager for mobile and emerging technology initiatives at work.
Lakshmi Menon is a writer and community volunteer committed to inter-cultural exchange and a past president of the Indo-American Center Board of Directors. She has served on the boards of several community and neighborhood organizations, and is often resource for Indian American content in Chicago mainstream media and events.
Raja Nadimpalli retired from Women’s Health Resources, where she was an internist specializing in primary care for women. She has a keen interest in arts and history.
Marta Nicholas was key to making the University of Chicago’s International House a welcome and friendly environment for both international and American students. She shares her interests in other cultures through her radio program “Music Around the World.”
Ralph Nicholas, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Chicago and former president of the American Institute of Indian Studies, does research on South Asian societies and cultures with an emphasis on Bengal.
Susan Patel is an Indian-American business owner and community activist. Her shop, Patel Handicrafts is a source for South Asian culture and religion. She holds a seat on the 50th Ward Special Service Area (SSA) committee, the West Ridge Chamber of Commerce board, and the Local School Council at Belding Elementary.
Jagriti Ruparel, Vice President, PNC Wealth Management, has been in the financial industry for 19 years. She is a former president of the museum Board and past President of ‘Apna Ghar,’ a Chicago domestic violence organization focusing on the South Asian community.
Sami Saddiqi Salesforce Project Manager and Salesforce User Group Leader with a focus on emerging cloud technology solutions for clients around the world. He is actively serving board member of Naperville Sister Cities Foundation and past-chairman of Naperville Sister Cities Commission, City of Naperville. He also serves on the Board of Spanish Radio/Spanish Public Media Foundation and, Science Health Allied Research Education Foundation (SHARE Illinois).
Shobhana Sanghvi is a founding member of the ILA Foundation, and on the Board of the Indo-American Center. She has supported numerous cultural events including
exhibitions at the Asia Society, the Sackler Gallery, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Ami M. Shah is an art historian and epidemiologist. She examines health disparities and is driven by her passion for social justice.
Surendra P. Shah is Walter P. Murphy Professor of Civil Engineering at Northwestern University where he is director of the Center for Advanced Cement Based Materials. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Prem Sharma is an accomplished artist who is a co-founder of Apna Ghar, the first South Asian domestic violence shelter in the U.S. A former president of the museum Board, she has served on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Asian Affairs and as a member of the Illinois Arts Council.
Dorothie Shah is a former history teacher at Evanston Township High School and a former president of the museum Board. She has served as a consultant to the University of Chicago South Asia Outreach Educational Project, Evenings for Educators at the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Chicago History Museum.
Rohit Srivastava has been a proud advisor and member of many Indo-American organizations through his career, and is honored to serve on the NIAM Associate Board in 2018. Raised in Rockford, IL, Rohit has taken pride in the immigrant experience of both his parents and their extended family through the years, and is excited to contribute to the preservation of those stories and experiences through this organization. Rohit is a Principal and VP at Liberty Advisor Group, a boutique management and technology consulting firm based in Chicago IL.
Nafisa and Mannan Bandukwala man the IAHM display at Chicago’s Field Museum.
A reception hosted by Indian Consul General and Mrs. Ashok Kumar Attri featured a display of Indian saris arranged by IAHM Board members.
