American University Archives

Ajeetha Begum Sulthan

Ajeetha is an IPS Officer, 2008 Batch, born into the Kerala Cadre. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Business Management and a Master’s degree in Political Science with a specialization in Gandhian studies. While training at the National Police Academy, she was adjudged the Best Lady Athlete and the Best Lady Outdoor Probationer of the batch.

She has worked as the Assistant Superintendent of Police Reasi and Additional Superintendent of Police Ramban in Jammu and Kashmir following which she was transferred to Kerala. In Kerala, she worked as the Superintendent of Police of Internal Security Investigation Team, CBCID, District Police Chief (Thrissur rural), Deputy Commissioner of Police (Trivandrum City), District Police Chief (Wayanad), Principal of Police Training College, District Police Chief (Kollam rural) and District Police Chief and Commissioner of Police (Kollam city). She is currently working as the Assistant Director in SVP National Police Academy. She has represented India at the UNODC conference in Vienna, Austria ( 2019) and made a presentation on Gender mainstreaming in the police.

The officer has been awarded the Kalinga Fellowship in recognition of her work in combating gender-based violence and the trafficking of women and children. She is a triathlete and has also stood first in Full marathon Open category Women’s – Hyderabad Airtel Marathon 2021.

As a Humphrey Fellow, she wishes to learn more about practical strategies to address the issue of prevention of crimes against children and also will improve institutional response to child victims of sexual assault by studying international best practices, policy frameworks, initiatives carried out by various public authorities, and develop a roadmap which includes multi-agency coordination to tackle this problem.

Sateesh Bino Sathiadhas

Sateesh Bino is the Deputy Inspector General of Police in the Indian state of Kerala. He is a 2008 batch Indian Police Service officer. He has approximately 15 years of experience, including serving as the police chief in five districts of Kerala where he supervised sensitive investigations, ensured law and order, and initiated several well-appreciated community policing initiatives, specifically focusing on prevention of drug abuse and trafficking. In 2023, Sateesh was a global fellow with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). He is a certified Resilience Trainer of the University of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Apart from his professional accomplishments, Sateesh is an avid fitness enthusiast, being an ultra-marathoner and a triathlete. He has completed two full IRONMAN triathlons (Maryland 2022, Texas 2023). He holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Indian School of Business and a doctorate in managerial economics. As a Humphrey Fellow, Sateesh will focus on law and human rights. He intends to study international best practices in ensuring human rights and contribute to the development of standard operating procedures for law enforcement in this direction.

Liyi Marli Noshi

Born into a family of 12 in remote Arunachal Pradesh, India, Liyi Noshi has defied societal expectations to become a lawyer and activist in New Delhi.

In her 16 years of legal career, Liyi has focused on social justice issues, particularly racial discrimination, child sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence and human trafficking, as an acclaimed champion for marginalized communities in India. She has secured legal representation for over 400 victims of sexual abuse and trafficking. Notably, her advocacy led to the establishment of a special police unit for Northeast Indians in Delhi. She has co-founded Helping Hands, a legal team working with Delhi Police to combat racial discrimination. Her dedication has also seen her collaborate with inspiring figures like senior advocate Indira Jaising, and various organizations which are working on issues of women and children.

Committed to long-term impact, Liyi seeks to empower vulnerable communities through policy changes and upskilling initiatives. As a Hubert H. Humphrey fellow at the American University, Washington, DC she is continuing with this endeavor. The fellowship will equip her with the knowledge and network to refine these goals and create lasting change.

Shameer Modongal

Dr. Shameer Modongal completed his Ph.D. in international relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. He also holds M.A and M.Phil. degrees in international relations from the same institution, as well as an M.A in political science from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi. Dr. Modongal’s scholarly achievements include qualifying for the Junior Research Fellowship and the National Eligibility Test of the University Grants Commission in international and area studies, as well as the National Eligibility Test in political science.

In the realm of academic publications, Dr. Modongal has made significant contributions, notably publishing two books in 2022: Islamic Perspectives on International Conflict Resolution: Theological Debates on the Israel-Palestinian Peace Process (Routledge) and Religion and Nuclear Weapons: A Study of Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan (Vij Books India). Additionally, he co-edited the book Counterterrorism and Global Security: Genesis, Responses and Challenges (Vij Books India) in 2021. He also serves as an editor or reviewer for many prestigious international journals, including the British Journal of Political Science (Cambridge University Press) and Cogent Social Sciences (Taylor and Francis).

As a Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research fellow at the American University, Washington, D.C., Dr. Modongal is engaged in exploring the dynamics between American Islamic scholars and organizations amidst conflicting interests of pro-Israel U.S. government policies and pro-Palestinian Muslim community interests. His research examines how the Islamic discourse in the U.S. shapes perceptions regarding the formation of Israel and the friendly relations of Muslim countries with it, as well as the discourse among Islamic scholars and organizations surrounding the support that the U.S. extends to Israel.