IT Coordinator

IT Specialist, Web Developer

Chris is currently a student at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA awaiting his undergraduate university decisions. He plans on studying Computer Science or Data Science with his experience in web and software development. His expertise lies in developing fluid web applications using SCSS/SASS and JavaScript and he has prior experience as a coding instructor where he taught students web development and programming.

Program Officer

Legal Specialist

Sienna (she/her/hers) is a native Californian from Orange County, CA. She attended Chapman University for her undergraduate education, double majoring in Economics and Spanish, with a minor in Italian Studies. Following graduation, she moved to New York City to gain work experience before applying to law school, where she hopes to study International Human Rights Law. She currently works full-time as a Paralegal/Case Manager at Kreindler & Kreindler, LLP, where she acts as the direct liaison for 350+ clients in their claims to the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, as well as a trainer for newly hired Case Managers.

Program Coordinator for the Dalit Journalist Fellowship Program

Albane is a third year student studying at MCGill University and double majoring in Political Science and International Development. She has been passionate about politics from a young age, and loves to help people.

Apart from school, she is involved in MCGill Model UN’s team. Previously she was working as an outreach director for McGill Women in Leadership, where Albane works alongside local shelters and women organizations to host events and provide funding. Currently, Albane is holding the VP Outreach position.

Survey Lead

Maansi Shah is a tenant organizer with Chhaya CDC in Queens, New York, and is passionate about racial and economic justice and land rights. They also sit on the board of the East Harlem El Barrio CLT and organize with SALAM, a South Asian left organization based in NYC.

Program Associate

Ziqi Jin, originally from China, is an accomplished individual with a diverse educational background. She is currently enrolled at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C., pursuing a Master of Science in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. Prior to that, she completed a dual degree in Bachelor of Economics in Finance from Donghua University in Shanghai, China.

Jin Ziqi has valuable work experience as a Business Analyst Intern at Bosch Investment Ltd., where she not only excelled in data analysis and visualization but also gained project management skills, overseeing and coordinating various projects to drive organizational success.

Program Advisor

Nikhil is an organizer, writer, researcher, and curator dedicated to promoting pluralism and social justice in South Asia and North America. He recently served as Deputy Executive Director of Hindus for Human Rights, and is currently a board member of Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus. He also curates Voices of Bhakti, a digital archive showcasing translations of South Asian poetry on religion, caste, and gender. With the Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program, he helped launch a national network of civic and faith leaders advancing religious pluralism. He has presented at national and international forums including the 2018 and 2021 Parliament of World’s Religions. Nikhil’s writing and reporting has been published in several outlets, such as Foreign Policy magazine, Religion News Service, and Religion Dispatches, and has been supported by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting. He has been quoted and interviewed by publications including BBC World Service, Al Jazeera, and the Huffington Post. Nikhil completed undergraduate and master’s degrees in public policy at the University of Chicago.

Vice President, Business Development and Partnerships

Marielle is the founder and CEO of Tanza Group, LLC., a consulting firm specializing in business development, fundraising, and operational improvement. Marielle has over a decade of experience leading business development and fundraising efforts for national non-profits, consultancies, academic institutions, and small businesses. Her work has secured millions of dollars in contracts, grants, donations, and sponsorships from prominent philanthropists, foundations, corporations, and government agencies, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the U.S. Department of State, and the National Institute of Justice. Before starting Tanza Group, Marielle was the founding Senior Vice President of Valens Global. She managed company-wide business development efforts and built strategic partnerships — growing the consultancy from a start-up into a multi-million dollar business, listed as one of the best entrepreneurial companies in 2018 & 2019 by Entrepreneur Magazine. Before Valens, she was the head of development at several national 501(c)(3) organizations, including Young Invincibles and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Additionally, Marielle was a researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, and V1 Analytical Solutions. She is a graduate of Harvard University (M.A.) and the University of Utah (B.A., magna cum laude). Marielle holds degrees in History, International Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies. She is also fluent in Levantine Arabic.

Senior Program Officer

Ms. Tandon has joined the ICDR as Senior Program Officer. She is a highly experienced development professional with several years of professional experience in Governance, Citizen Participation, Gender and Social Inclusion, gained from national international organizations in Nepal, the Netherlands, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, and the United States of America. Her goal towards development initiatives lies in understanding and combating systematic structural gender and racial discrimination and inequality. She holds a PhD from École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) in Paris, France. Her research focuses on the circumstances under which people from marginalized communities, including discriminated castes, indigenous groups, and women can participate in the governance process in Nepal. In addition to her doctoral degree, she holds a Master of Arts in International Relations, a Master of Science in Ecology and Environment, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Women’s Studies.