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Manisha Javeri

Dr. Manisha Javeri is professor and chair of the educational technology program at the Charter College of Education, California State University, where she has served for over two decades. She holds a PhD in educational technology from the University of Northern Colorado, and advanced degrees in physical chemistry and education from the University of Mumbai.

Her work focuses on the integration of emerging technologies, particularly AI, in teaching and learning across K–12 and higher education. She has designed and taught an early graduate-level course on AI in education and has led curriculum development in areas like online learning, instructional design, virtual and augmented reality, and data-driven decision-making. In her role as program chair, she oversees academic planning, accreditation, and strategic initiatives for graduate programs in educational technology.

Dr. Javeri’s scholarship is complemented by a strong commitment to international and interdisciplinary education. At California State University, she developed one of the first undergraduate courses on peace and conflict resolution by integrating digital tools, data, and global perspectives to examine conflict, sustainability, and humanitarian challenges.

Dr. Javeri’s research and professional contributions extend globally, with projects linking technology to humanitarian and sustainability efforts in Africa and Asia. A Rotary Peace Fellow, she has worked on international initiatives involving peacebuilding, environmental sustainability, and technology-enabled community development. She has also collaborated with the Clinton Global Initiative and UNESCO-related efforts, and has led projects ranging from solar energy interventions in Mozambique to technology integration programs for educators in Botswana.

She is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Rotary International World Peace Fellowship and recognition as a Global Peace Ambassador. Her current scholarly interests include AI in education, human performance technology, interdisciplinary applications of technology, and equitable access to digital learning in diverse and multicultural contexts. Through her teaching, research, and collaborations, she continues to advance innovative, ethical, and globally informed approaches to educational technology.

Dr. Javeri’s Fulbright-Nehru project is examining the integration of AI in graduate educational technology programs through a comparative study between California State University and SNDT Women’s University in Mumbai. The project is combining teaching and research, including delivering AI-focused courses and conducting mixed-methods research on curriculum design, student outcomes, and institutional contexts. By analyzing similarities and differences across the U.S. and India, the project aims to develop innovative, ethical, and culturally responsive AI curriculum frameworks while fostering long-term academic collaboration and advancing global best practices in AI in education.

Udita Gupta

Dr. Udita Gupta is a clinical associate professor in the Urban Institute for Teacher Education (UITE) at the University of Utah’s College of Education, where she is working in the field of teacher preparation and secondary mathematics education. She began her career as a statistics lecturer in India. She completed her PhD in educational psychology (learning sciences) from the University of Utah. Dr. Gupta brings a cross-cultural perspective shaped by her academic and professional experience in both India and the United States, and is fluent in both Hindi and English. Her research focus is on the cognitive load incurred in STEM learning; reflective practices; global competency development; community-engaged learning; and the integration of artificial intelligence in teacher preparation. She is particularly interested in how culturally responsive pedagogy, global perspectives, and AI-enhanced instructional strategies can strengthen preservice and in-service teacher education. She has published scholarly work and led faculty development initiatives in these areas.

Dr. Gupta’s Fulbright-Nehru project has three major components: strengthening preservice teacher preparation and secondary mathematics teaching methods through direct classroom teaching, workshops, and seminars for both preservice and in-service teachers in India; collaborating with Indian faculty on developing a curriculum that integrates culturally responsive pedagogy, global aspects, and AI into teacher education; and building enduring academic partnerships between Indian and U.S. institutions through sustained mentorship and capacity building in STEM teacher education. Aligned with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 reforms that emphasize critical thinking over rote learning, the project is working toward strengthening STEM teacher preparation through inquiry-driven, student-centered strategies, and adopting global practices like COIL – Collaborative Online International Learning.

Suraj Muley

Dr. Suraj Muley is a neurologist and internationally recognized expert in neuromuscular medicine, neuroimmunology, myasthenia gravis, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). He serves as director of neurology at Bob Bové Neuroscience Institute at HonorHealth and is professor of medicine at Arizona State University School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering. Dr. Muley completed his medical education at Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College, Mumbai, which was followed by research training in pharmacology and residency and fellowship training in neurology, clinical neurophysiology, and neuromuscular diseases at the University of Minnesota. He is board certified in neurology, clinical neurophysiology, and neuromuscular medicine.

Over a distinguished academic career spanning more than three decades, Dr. Muley has held major leadership roles at the University of Minnesota, Barrow Neurological Institute, and HonorHealth, including directing neuromuscular, neuroimmunology, fellowship, and residency programs. His clinical and research interests focus on immune-mediated neuromuscular disorders, with emphasis on novel targeted therapies for myasthenia gravis and CIDP. He has served as principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous national and international clinical trials in neuromuscular diseases.

Dr. Muley has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, invited reviews, and international presentations in neuromuscular medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology (FAAN), Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP), and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (FRCP Edin). His honors include multiple teaching and research awards.

Dr. Muley’s Fulbright-Nehru project is focusing on advancing neuromuscular medicine and neuroimmunology in India through collaborative teaching, research, and clinical training. Working with leading academic medical centers in Mumbai, his project emphasizes inflammatory neuropathies and myasthenia gravis, with particular focus on advanced electrophysiological techniques and emerging targeted therapies. The project aims to strengthen subspecialty education, promote collaborative clinical research, and develop sustainable academic partnerships between Indian and U.S. institutions. By leveraging India’s large and diverse patient population, the project seeks to improve understanding and treatment of immune-mediated neurological disorders while fostering long-term global collaboration in neuroscience.

Nita Sahai

Prof. Nita Sahai’s research focuses on the physical–chemical aspects of biomolecular and inorganic ion interactions at mineral surfaces in processes relevant to the origins of life and astrobiology, environmental geochemistry, and biomaterials science. She earned her PhD from Johns Hopkins University in 1997. Following an NSF postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Maryland, Prof. Sahai became a full professor in the Department of Geoscience, University of Wisconsin–Madison, from 2000 to 2011. She has been with the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, since 2011, and holds joint appointments in the departments of geosciences and biology, and in the Integrated Bioscience Program. Prof. Sahai holds the Ohio Research Scholar Endowed Chair, Biomaterials, and is a fellow of CIFAR (Canadian Institute for Advanced Research). She was also a fellow and a distinguished lecturer of the Mineralogical Society of America. Her research has been supported by such prestigious institutions as the NSF and NASA. She is also the recipient of the NSF CAREER Award and the Romnes Faculty Fellowship. Prof. Sahai has served on the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Science, which advises NASA. In 2020, she was featured in Fireball, an award-winning documentary on meteorites and the evolution of life and human society on Earth. She has been interviewed on the National Public Radio and on the Public Broadcasting Service. Prof. Sahai has served/is currently serving on several editorial boards, including those of Astrobiology, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, and American Mineralogist. She has guest-edited a volume, Medical Mineralogy and Geochemistry (in the well-known Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry Series), and two thematic issues of the Elements magazine. She is a keen history buff and studies philosophy as a hobby.

Dr. Sahai’s Fulbright-Nehru project is exploring how, before life and enzymes, protometabolism emerged. It is exploring mechanisms to synthesize the ATP molecule using metal-ion catalysts. The project is collaborating with the microbiologist Prof. Amitesh Anand (TIFR, Mumbai) and the chemist Prof. Sudha Rajmani (IISER Pune).

Claire Wulfman

Claire Wulfman holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Vermont and recently completed her master’s in public health from the University of Utah. Her academic path has been shaped by her curiosity and drive to create more equitable systems of care. As an undergraduate, she was involved in student government, biomedical research, collegiate athletics, and tutoring in writing. All through her master’s program, Claire contributed to a nationwide sleep study by coordinating participant recruitment and conducting cognitive assessments. She has served as a health educator with the Planned Parenthood’s Teen Council Program and has also been a counselor for sexual assault victims; besides, she was a community outreach assistant with the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault. For her practicum, Claire traveled to Peru to study family planning beliefs and behaviors.

As a community outreach officer on the Student Advisory Committee, Claire organized volunteer initiatives and policy engagement events for fellow graduate students. She has also contributed to research on sexual and reproductive health and rights in India. Her capstone project explored how gender norms affect stress and mental health among college-aged men; this built on her broader interest in social constructs of masculinity and gender-based violence. Claire’s interdisciplinary interests bridge public health, gender equity, and social justice. Her passion for addressing gender-based violence stems from her experience supporting survivors, promoting prevention, and researching the role of masculinities. Outside of academics and work, Claire finds joy in poetry, cooking, and spending time in the mountains.

Claire’s Fulbright-Nehru project is examining how NGOs based in Mumbai are engaging with men and boys on the topic of public-space sexual harassment (PSH). Working with these local organizations, Claire is assessing how concepts of masculinity, gender roles, and safety are communicated and implemented. Through interviews, field observations, and policy analysis, her research aims to identify effective strategies to promote gender equity and inform future interventions to address PSH in India and beyond.

Pran Teelucksingh

Pran Teelucksingh recently received his BS in Chemistry and a BA in health and human biology from Brown University, Rhode Island. His research interests include bacterial metabolites and natural products. At Brown, Pran conducted research in the Kizer Lab, where he worked on optimizing the recombinant expression of glycan antigens in E. coli. He also served as a head tutor and teaching assistant for the organic chemistry sequence. He is especially interested in the intersection between public health and science. During his earlier years of college, he spent time in several student-led public health organizations and also co-published a research article on campus accessibility.

Outside of work, Pran enjoys hiking, baking, gardening, reading visual novels, and playing the trumpet and RPG video games.

Pran’s Fulbright-Nehru project is seeking to uncover novel antibiotic scaffolds and producers that can serve as the foundation for novel antimicrobial therapies. The research involves screening natural product extracts for bioactivity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, identifying a bioactive extract, purifying the metabolite, and then characterizing the metabolite’s activity toward drug-resistant bacteria. The study is also mapping the biosynthetic gene cluster of such a metabolite by using the bioinformatic tool antiSMASH.

Rachel Sondgeroth

Rachel Sondgeroth is an interdisciplinary scholar and professional in interreligious engagement. She recently received her master’s degree in religion from the Union Theological Seminary, an affiliate of Columbia University. Her research interests include the sociology of religion, methodology studies, and more specifically, faith-based approaches to organizing community service. She also studies how religious communities mobilize to strengthen their communities through both internal and interfaith initiatives.

For the past nine years, Rachel has been working on bringing diverse communities together to talk, listen, and connect. During both her BA and MA programs, she led interreligious initiatives, programs, and student organizations. Later, she worked for three years for the Arizona State University’s Project Humanities initiative, supporting the research of Dr. Neal Lester and facilitating events on topics such as religion and gender justice in an effort to dispel myths on religious doctrines and dogma; she was also part of intercultural seminars of the project. At the Union Theological Seminary, Rachel studied justice issues pertaining to interreligious diversity in the United States. Outside of interreligious engagement, she is working towards learning more about indigenous traditions, folk practices, and place-based spiritualities in the American Southwest.

Rachel’s Fulbright-Nehru project is conducting research exploring the methodologies, outcomes, and cultural norms around organizing faith-based community service projects in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Through case studies, interviews, and surveys, the research is cataloging the methods of faith-based service initiatives in Mumbai and quantifying their successes and challenges. By studying these practices, she is hoping to gain insights that will help improve their efficacy. The intended outcome of the project is the mobilization of millions of people to serve their communities, thereby fostering peace and unity among them.

Jasmine Sears

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Jasmine Sears moved to Los Angeles to study environmental studies at the University of Southern California (USC) in 2017. While a student, she worked at various fashion companies, thereby developing a passion for and expertise in sustainability in the textile sector. She has also served as the vice president of USC’s Fashion Industry Association and as the Fashion & Aesthetic director for the school’s Black Student Assembly. In order to develop an international perspective on issues of commerce and the environment, Jasmine conducted research in China on global consumer culture through USC’s Global East Asian Studies Center. She graduated from USC in December 2020.

Jasmine has been working at Google since 2021. There, she helps organize weekly climate talks for Anthropocene, the company’s climate interest group. She has participated in Audubon’s Coastal Leadership Program, where she completed a capstone research project on Black Angelenos’ relationships with the Los Angeles coast and birding.

Jasmine’s Fulbright-Nehru research project is examining the opportunity to expand the adoption of wastewater treatment practices across India’s textile sector in order to improve water quality and economic, social, and environmental outcomes. She is analyzing local industry conditions in Mumbai and Tirupur, and interviewing textile company wastewater treatment leaders to develop scalable frameworks which non-compliant textile businesses can follow in determining how to manage their effluent output.

Enoch Kim

Enoch Kim is a recent graduate from Pitzer College, a member of the Claremont Colleges Consortium. He majored in political science and international affairs, focusing on the political economy of Asia and the Middle East. Hailing from Illinois, he spent his formative years rooted in Korean-American activism.

Enoch has written for various newspapers on campus, such as The Student Life and Claremont Undercurrents, where he reported on labor organizing, student protests, and on-campus movements. He was also a delegate, training manager, and vice president of Pomona College’s Model UN (MUN), where he competed in conferences across the United States, earning accolades such as Outstanding Delegate for his four-day performance in the AI warfare policy committee for the Harvard National MUN 2024. He has also worked with Welcome to Chinatown, a community-based nonprofit focused on combating gentrification and preserving immigrant culture in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Besides, he has worked as a DEI and government affairs intern at Ingredion, a Fortune 500 company in global food solutions. Presently, he is volunteering for the campaign of Kat Abughazaleh, a progressive congressional candidate for IL-9. Enoch is passionate about protecting the rights of the marginalized and combating authoritarians, at home and abroad.

Enoch’s Fulbright-Nehru project is studying the economic and environmental impacts of the rising fast fashion industry in Tirupur, Mumbai, Lucknow, and Delhi. He is particularly focusing on the fast fashion brand Shein that represents a global consumption pattern toward synthetic textiles, in contrast to the domestic consumption pattern, which is more geared toward the natural textiles produced by small businesses. He is also exploring a circular economy framework to find ways for small businesses to improve their business using their competitive advantage of higher environmental sustainability. Enoch’s project aims to create a holistic picture of the Indian textile ecosystem in order to create pathways for MSMEs to survive and evolve in this era of globalization.