Professor Narayanan Komerath, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology. Over 300 publications and 100 research projects. Experience includes being Fellow of the NASA Institute of Advanced Concepts, Boeing Welliver Fellow, Senior Fellow at the Sam Nunn Center for International Security, Technology and Policy. Currently working to bring family-sized power generators using renewable resources, as part of a global distributed architecture for energy independence, with particular relevance to rural India. Pro-active in helping understanding of issues related to India-US synergy in technology, culture and the security of Free Democracies.

Professor Nicholas F. Gier received his B.A. (honors) from Oregon State University in 1966 and his M.A. and Ph.D. in philosophical theology from Claremont Graduate University in 1969 and 1973. He taught in the philosophy department at the University of Idaho from 1972-2003. He was coordinator of religious studies from 1980-2003.

His major interests are Continental Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, and Asian Philosophy. He has published four books: Wittgenstein and Phenomenology (SUNY Press, 1981); God, Reason, and the Evangelicals (University Press of America, 1987); Spiritual Titanism: Indian, Chinese, and Western Perspectives (SUNY Press, 2000); and The Virtue of Non-Violence: from Gautama to Gandhi (SUNY Press, 2004). He is currently writing a book on the origins of religious violence from an Asian perspective. Draft chapters can be read at www.class.uidaho.edu/orv.htm.

He has enjoyed three research trips to India ('92, '95, '99) and studied at the United Theological Seminary in Bangalore, the Gandhi Peace Foundation in New Delhi, and the Department of Gandhian Studies at Punjab University.

Professor Shree S. Vinekar, M.D. Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Shri Arutselvan Natarajan Ph.D., Instructor, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford School of Medicine.

Dr. Kumud Sane is board certified Pediatrician and Pediatric Endocrinologist. She retired from Pediatric Endocrine Department, University of Minnesota recently. She is one of the Founder of Hindu Society of Minnesota which was established in 1978. She has served in various capacities in the organization. At present she is the Chair of Executive Council of Trustee Board. She has worked hard to unite all Hindus and Jains in Minneapolis and St. Paul to build Beautiful, Grand Temple with twenty-one shrines. The Temple was inaugurated in July of 2006. The Hindu Society of Minnesota is involved in educational, cultural, charity and interfaith activities along with religious services.

Professor Arnold P. Kaminsky is Professor of History at California State University, Long Beach, and former Chair of the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies. He was the Founding Director of the Yadunandan Center for India Studies at CSULB.

Dr. Kaminsky's research interests lie in the area of Modern South Asian/Indian History, while his teaching interests include World, British Imperial and Southeast Asian History.

A strong advocate of linkages between university and K-12 educators, he is the recipient of awards from the National Foundation for the Improvement of Education Award, sponsored by NEA for enhancing understanding and curricular development of Asian history and culture in the Middle School; a NEH Focus Grant for "Infusing Southeast Asia into the Middle and High School World History Curriculum," and a Freeman Foundation Grant to infuse Asia into the teacher education curriculum. In recognition of his efforts and the outstanding success of these projects, Dr. Kaminsky received one of the National Education Association's highest honors, the William G. Carr Memorial Award.

Professor Atanu Dey Ph.D., is an economist with a background in development. He did doctoral work at the University of California at Berkeley where he teaches summer courses. His PhD thesis title was, "Universal Service Obligation Imposed Cross-subsidies: The impact on the demand for telecommunications in India." Prior to going back to school, he worked at Hewlett Packard in the Silicon Valley in their computer systems division.

Professor Rashmi Sharma Singh is an author, curriculum developer, and on the faculty of Sonoma State University, in California. She is a founding member of EduSAVidya.org, its first President, and the founder of VidyaBooks.com. Rashmi grew up in Delhi, and has lived in the US since 1974. She was active in the California History/Social Science Frameworks debates in California two decades ago, and established a precedent in the California K-12 textbook adoption process. She has published booklets, posters and lesson plans on South Asian history and religion (see vidyabooks.com for details). The Asia Society of New York awarded EduSA-Vidya a grant with Albany middle school to develop a program for Alameda county classroom teachers. Her historical introduction to immigrant voices speaking in their own voices was published in the landmark anthology, Living in America (Westview/Perseus Press), edited by Roshni Rustomji Kerns. Her research at the National Archives, on The US. v. Bhagat Singh Thind, became the basis of much that has since been written about him and his historic case. She participated in/ assisted the Asian Arts Museum of San Francisco with their exhibits on India, Hinduism and Sikhism. At George Mason University and First Liberty Institute, she learned how to teach about religion in middle and high schools, within the First Amendment parameters from legal and national scholars. She has taught at Sonoma State University for twelve years. She pioneered Peace Studies there, and co-teaches in the highly acclaimed, interdisciplinary War and Peace lecture series.

Professor Dilip Parekh, M.D., Professor of Oncological Surgery, University of Southern California

Professor Nalini N. Rao joined the Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo faculty as Professor of World Art in September 2000. Rao came to SUA from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she taught courses in Survey of Asian Art, Art of India and Southeast Asia. Before that she was an Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Hawaii, Hilo (1998), and she was a Consulting Curator for Asian Art at the Amarillo Museum of Art in Texas (1997). Prior to that she was an instructor of Buddhist Art of India & Southeast Asia at California State University, Long Beach (1996) and Instructor in History of Western Art at California State University, Northridge (1995).

Rao holds two Ph.D.'s: one in Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles and the other in Ancient History and Archaeology from the University of Mysore, Mysore, India and M.A. in History from the University of Marathawanda, Aurangabad, India.

Professor Michael K. Ward

Academic Appointments:

(1) Assistant Professor, Ventura College. Teaching fields: World History, Western Civilization, United States, Latin America, American Indians.

(2) Visiting Lecturer, California State University, Northridge. Teaching fields: surveys, topics, and proseminars in American History, American Indians, Historian's Craft.

Degrees:

Ph.D. Claremont Graduate University.

M.A., California State University, Northridge.

B.A., California State University, Northridge.

A.A., Ventura Community College.

Dr. Anshu Vashishtha M.D., has an educational and professional background in medicine and biotechnology, having graduated as the best all round medical graduate of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, followed by Research and Faculty appointments at the Rockefeller University, Virginia Tech and University of California , Irvine. Over the years he has participated in Chinmaya mission, Swadhyay, Nithyananda , Arsha Vidya Gurukulam and other Vedic organizations. He has also been active in local interfaith activities and take an interest in the interface of science, spirituality and religion. Worked with Dr Shinde in the Vedic University project.

Shri Chetan Gandhi is an electrical engineer by profession. He has been involved in teaching Hindu Sunday Schools (balavihars) for over 20 years. He currently volunteers his time as a meditation/life solutions teacher. He has taken over 2000 hours of meditation training and taught a variety of workshops. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in counseling with the goal to incorporate Vedic techniques to heal individuals from metal suffering.

Shri Babulal Gandhi practiced, learned, and taught Vedic scriptures from early childhood to present day. Have taught courses at Hindu University as an adjunct professor for 3 years. Subjects include Puran studies, Hinduism, and Vedic Astrology. Founded, established, and taught balvihars for greater than 15 years. Volunteered as a priest with Hindu temples in the UK and Los Angeles, CA. Performed volunteer services as a hindu community priest for over 40 years. Currently President of Vivekanda Yoga Research Institute, Los Angeles (affiliated to S-VYASA University, Bangalore). Have trained more than 65 yoga teachers in southern California, who are teaching at various temples and communities. Former Secretary of Hindu Heritage acamedy, New Delhi. Have arranged lectures and retreats for foreign diplomats and students. Have conducted training for 33 priests in India on how to work abroad. This training included teaching them courses in Upanisads, Bhagavad Gita, Puranas, and written and spoken English. At present, in the process of enrolling as a research student in Puranic studies at Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmendabad, India. Also, participated in Atirudram as Ritvik.

Dr. Venkatesh Subba Rao Ph.D., has deep interests in understanding the tradition, philosophy, history and culture of various civilizations in general but Indian civilization in particular. Has been involved in renovation of couple of temples near Madurai. He is a physicist by training and currently employed as an engineer in semiconductor industry. His educational credentials include a PhD - experimental physics (Wayne State University, Detroit), MS (Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY), BSc & MSc (The American College, Madurai, India).

Shri Varun Khanna has a Master of Philosophy degree in Sanskrit from Cambridge University and is currently accepted for doctrol studies in Cambridge University. He has traveled extensively in India and pursued the study of Sanskrit and got in touch with the traditional method of learning the language.

Sushri Amanda Varanasi , first year student of Master of Public Health in Healthcare Management and Health Policy, University of California, Los Angeles. She has a Bachelor's in Neuroscience and Political Science from UCLA. As a second-generation Hindu, born and brought up in USA, it is of extreme importance to her that she takes an active effort to learn and preserve Hindu culture and heritage not only so that future generations may carry on our traditions, but also so that Hinduism is recognized in the international arena with a legitimate presence.

Bhikshuni Lozang Trinlae, B.Sc., Ed.M., is presently a doctoral student in practical theology at Claremont Lincoln University, where she is conducting research in formal vajrayana meditation practice. She was ordained a novice Buddhist nun in Mysore in 1991; took full-ordination Bhikshuni precepts in 1998 in Bodhgaya, India; and is also a priest in the Buddhist vajrayana tradition (Drukpa Kagyu and Gelug lineages primarily).

A summa-cum-laude graduate in physics, she earned her master's degree in education from Harvard University, where she also studied Tibetan language in the Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies. She taught science and English in India and in Tibet while undertaking contemplative training in vajrayana Buddhism. After teaching Buddhism in Taiwan in the mid-1990's, she founded Mahaprajapati Hermitage in Sagarmartha Mt. Everest National Park in Nepal, where she completed ten years of cloistered, intensive, vajrayana retreat, including two great approaching retreats Bhikshuni Lozang is also a trained chaplain and certified instructor in relationship education.

Shri Saumitra Gokhale graduated as a Metallurgical Engineer from Pune, his home town and then completed a masters degree from Canada. Since 1995 he is working as a pracharak (full time worker) of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He worked in some rural and tribal areas of Maharshtra. Since 2000 he worked as a pracharak amongst the Hindus in the Caribbean countries and as America zone coordinator since 2004. Currently he is the International Coordinator for Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh. He is also part of the International Center for Cultural Studies.

Shri Santhosh Prabhu is an full time volunteer of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh since last three and half years after completing my Masters in Computer Science from Florida Institute of Technology. Area of interest is activities related to Dharmic traditions and philosophy on University Campuses and connecting Academicians and student community for events on campuses adding value.

Dr. Savithiri Rambatla M.D., is a practicing physician in Los Angeles area. She served as chairperson for the Department of Pediatrics, Beverly Hospital, Montebello, CA, for 4 consecutive years. She was the Leader of steering committee and instrumental in establishing NICU at Beverly Hospital. She has organized Continuing Medical Education Programs in India and was instrumental in Developing Neonatal and Perinatal Services in SHARE Mediciti Hospital, Hyderabad, India.

Dr. Kamalakar Rambatla M.D., a practicing physician in Los Angeles area. He has served as chairperson for the Department of Internal Medicine and Chief of Staff in several Hospitals as well as Medical Director of pulmonary Department, Beverly Hospital, Montebello, California.

Shri Naren Rambatla is the owner of "Revelations Yoga Vedanta Books and Wellness Center". The firm offers services like Yoga, Meditation, Reiki Healing, Acupuncture, Hypnotherapy, etc.

Shri Kevin Lopez is a graduate student in the Philosophy department at San Diego State University. Mr. Lopez joined the department in Fall 2011. His current scholarly interests include Vedanta (Shankara and Ramanuja), Yoga, Kashmir Shaivism (specifically Abhinavagupta and Kshemaraja), Theravada Buddhism, Madhyamaka Buddhism, Yogacara Buddhism, Environmental Ethics, theories of consciousness, Hinduism, tirthas, Whitehead's Process Theology, and Phenomenology (Husserl and Heidegger). Recently, he has been focusing on arguments in the Siva Sutras, Spanda Karikas, and Pratyabhijnahridayam that focus on the nature of consciousness. Among the questions he has been considering are the following: is consciousness necessarily auto-reflexive? What is the basis for a possible ontological distinction between consciousness and mind? He is currently being guided in his studies by Professor Sthaneshwar Timalsina.

Sushri Bhaavika Patel recently graduated from Boston University with a bachelor's degree in Biology. She is currently pursuing admission into medical school. After living in Pune as a child, Bhaavika moved to the Silicon Valley with her family where she attended Monta Vista High School. Here, she co-founded Hindu Awareness Club, a religious club to educate her peers about Hinduism. In the past, Bhaavika has interned with Hindu American Foundation and conducted research on the religious aggression in Northeast India. She participated in Hindu Education Foundation's efforts to revise California's textbooks in 2005. She is an active member of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh and has conducted several leadership retreats, conferences, and camps. At Boston University, she was on the executive board of Hindu Students Council. In her spare time, Bhaavika enjoys reading books about medicine and philosophy.

Shri Vaibhav Joshi

Dr. Sunil Kulkarni Ph.D., is Principal Software Engineer at a startup Zeitera LLC. He earned his ME and PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore and Purdue University at West Lafayette respectively. He also holds MS in Computational Finance from Purdue University. In has been school days, he was active in various student organizations such as Marathi Mandal, Hindu Students Council, Cricket Club and International Students Association. Currently he is a member of the editorial team of Balagokulam Magazine - "A Unique Magazine for Hindu Children". He likes to be with children and work for various children activities.His non-professional interests include children education, community organization and social problem solving.

Shrimathi Sonali Lokhande

Dr. Jayant Lokhande M.D., MBA - BioTech., is a Vedic Scholar and would like to contribute in preserving and expanding Hindu Dharma Philosophy and Practice.

Dr. Parag Vaishampayan is a Scientist at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA at Pasadena. He holds a PhD. degree in microbiology. He is Swayamsevak of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangha, USA and is deeply interested in Hindu philosophy and dharma education in North America.

Shri Alex Howe is an undergraduate student in his senior year. He is double majoring in Philosophy and Religious Studies His areas of interest include theories of consciousness, language in comparative mysticism, and concepts of truth, language, and metaphor. Alex is applying for a Fulbright Fellowship to Nepal in order study the philosophy of Newar Buddhism. He is also applying to Ph.D. programs in both Philosophy and Religious Studies and he has his eyes on both Stony Brook University (SUNY) and University of Colorado at Boulder.

Shri Sundar Movva is an IT Project Manager by profession and lives in Los Angeles. He is a devotee of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi and is actively involved in organizing spritual events to support numerous charitable projects of Mata Amritanandamayi Math in US and India.

Dr. Vinod Ambastha M.D., is Pulmonary/ Critical Care Physician in Kaiser Permanente. After finishing Residency and Fellowship at University of Southern California practicing in Los Angeles area since 1995.He is an active member of Indian Medical Association of Southern California and Sanghchalak for West Coast Sambhaag of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh

Shrimathi Jayashree Kumar BA, BS, JD practices law in Southern California and is currently working in the Family Law area through the offices in Pasadena, CA and Torrance, CA. She is actively involved with many organizations serving the community, including helping women and men in domestic violence. She also serves community by doing fund raisers and spiritual programs for Amma's Embrace the World organization.

Shri Prabhu Ambatipudi has personal interest in the topic of Dharmic traditions, and in particular how sublime values of Sanatana Dharma can be applied to various fields in the Western context.

Dr. Krishna Reddy M.D., founded the Indian American Friendship Council (IAFC), a non-profit, non-partisan, non-religious and national organization in 1990. It is committed to promote stronger relations between the United States and India, the two largest democracies in the world. IFAC has been thoroughly educating US policy makers and making diligent efforts to promote cordial Indo-US relations.

Shri Bhavesh Pandya currently Chief of Service at a large local Los Angeles Hospital and Southern California Medical Group Practice. He has practiced medicine and been licensed in California since 1997. He received his education from a variety of educational institutions including UCLA, UC San Francisco, and UC Berkeley. He is Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Occupational & Environmental Medicine. Dr Pandya serves as a Qualified Medical Evaluator for the State of California and gives expert opinions on complex medical-legal occupational or environmental/medical toxicology and internal medicine cases. He has also given testimony on occasion as an expert witness for complex medical cases. Dr Pandya's academic accomplishments include several research publications and book chapters related to his medical specialty. He has been elected as a fellow of the American College of Occupational & Environmental Medicine and the American College of Physicians. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor at UCLA and teaches residents and students at his medical center. He has volunteered as a physician in medical free clinics in the Bay Area and in Southern California. In his free time, he is also an active volunteer in some well-known humanitarian and spiritual organizations.. His other interests include Meditation, Yoga, Ayurveda, Global Economics, Finance and Traveling.

Shrimathi Padma Komerath

Shri Jaydev Rao

Shri Mani Keeran

Shri Srini Kode

Shri Anil Surpur

Shrimathi Ashwini Surpur

Shri Awadhesh Agarwal

Shrimathi Bhanu SarDesai

Shri Prashant Patel

Shri Bikku Bhai Patel

Dr. Radheshyam Dwivedi