| Association of Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of Americas (NAPA) |
Communication Committee (2024-2026)
Chair
Santosh Pathak, Ph.D.
Economist
E-mail: santoshpathak153 at gmail dot com
Dr. Santosh Pathak is an economist serving as a risk management professional for a systemically important financial institution. He earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Louisiana State University in 2022 with specialization in agri-environmental policy and econometrics. Dr. Pathak previously worked with the LSU Agricultural Center, the Nepal Agricultural Economics Society, and the National Land Use Project. He also served as a mentor for the 2023 Daayitwa Nepal Public Policy Fellowship program. Dr. Pathak has authored over a dozen research and op-ed articles on economic policy, sustainability, and risk-based decision making. He has been recognized with multiple prestigious awards, including the Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award, the Distinguished Dissertation Award, and the PhD Student Job Market Paper Award.
Members
Akanksha Hada, PhD Student
University of Maryland, USA
Email:hada at umd dot com
Akanksha Hada is a Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland, specializing in intestinal mucosal immune cells (T cells) in cattle, aiming to enhance the understanding of livestock health and immune mechanisms. He earned his Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) from Agriculture and Forestry University in Nepal in 2018. His professional experience includes roles as a Technical Sales Executive and Veterinary Officer, providing a comprehensive perspective on animal health management. At the University of Maryland, Akanksha has demonstrated leadership as the Graduate Teaching Assistant and the President of the Animal Sciences Graduate Student Association (ASGSA). He also serves as the Organization Administrator of the Nepali Graduate Students Association (NGSA). His dedication to animal sciences is recognized through several awards and scholarly publications, reflecting his commitment and contributions to the field. Currently, he is actively volunteering in the NAPA Communications Committee, where he applies his expertise in communication to promote community engagement and information dissemination.
Kripa Rijal, MS Student
North Dakota State University, USA
Email: kripa dot rijal at ndsu dot edu
Kripa Rijal is a Graduate Research Assistant at NDSU, pursuing a master's in plant sciences focusing on plant breeding and genetics. Her research aims to improve Fusarium Head Blight resistance in winter wheat using molecular biology techniques. She holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Kripa has received several scholarships and awards, including the John F. Soper Plant Sciences Scholarship Award at NDSU and the Academic Excellence Scholarship Award at Tribhuvan University. Apart from her involvement in NAPA, she is also the vice president of the Plant Sciences Graduate Student Association and the CSO of the Nepalese Student Association-Chautaree at NDSU. In her spare time, Kripa enjoys traveling, meeting new people, and exploring cultures and cuisines.
Namrata Acharya, Ph.D. Student
University of Georgia, USA
Email: namrata.acharya at uga dot edu
Namrata Acharya is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Georgia in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. She completed her master's degree at North Dakota State University and her undergraduate studies at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Lamjung Campus. Both her master's and PhD research focus on crop improvement through breeding in economically important crops. She is a member of the Communications Committee at NAPA.
Saurav Ranabhat, M.S. Student
Email: sranabhat at agcenter dot lsu dot edu
Saurav Ranabhat is a master's student in the Department of Entomology at Louisiana State University. He is also a graduate research assistant working in Dr. James Villegas's lab. He completed his bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences from the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) in Chitwan, Nepal. He worked in the LSU AgCenter as a visiting research associate during Oct 2022-Nov 2023. Before that, he worked as a lab technician in the Entomology lab of Warm Temperate Horticulture Center, Kathmandu, Nepal from May to September 2021. For his master's, he will be studying the role of sprayer drones in insect pests’ management in soybean and cotton. He has been a student member of NAPA since April 2024, actively serving the NAPA Communications Committee.