User:Drniraula

Brief Bio of Dr. Tara Niraula

Dr. Tara Niraula, educationist, researcher, social policy expert and a staunch advocate for immigrants’ rights, is an educator by profession with over 25 years of experience in teaching, research, policy development and advocacy work. He has served in number positions such as Public School Teacher in Nepal, Administrator of the Save the Children Fund (UK), Education Program Officer of the Swiss Development Cooperation, Director of Newcomer Education Policy, and Advocacy with the New York Immigration Coalition, adjunct graduate faculty, Senior Research Scholar and Research Director at Teachers College, Columbia University, Education Researcher/Consultant with Fordham University Graduate School of Education and Director and professor of education with the Institute for Urban Education with New School University. Currently, he is the Executive Administrator of Bank Street Graduate School of Education.

For over 15 years, Dr. Niraula has been a staunch fighter for immigrant rights in New York and beyond. As the Director of the Newcomer Education Policy and Advocacy with the New York Immigration Coalition, he mobilized hundreds of state wide immigrant community groups to strengthen the voices of immigrants and refugees in New York State and beyond. Dr. Niraula also led community efforts and worked with then President and Schools Chancellor and other Board members of the New York City Department of Education to develop the first ever Newcomer Education Reform Policy, Parent Involvement and Translation and Interpretation policy, which were passed by the Board of Education. Dr. Niraula also served on New York City Schools Chancellors Advocacy Taskforce. His advocacy work on issues related to immigrant communities has produced noticeable results.

A soft spoken, and a polite personality, Dr. Niraula commands tremendous respect within his professional community as well as in Nepali as well as South Asian communities in North America. He is one of the most well-known and recognized community leaders in Nepali American community in North America. He is also the immediate past president of the Nepalese Americas Council, an umbrella organization for over 30 Nepali American groups in North America and the NRN National Coordination Council of USA as well as past president of the America Nepal Friendship Society, and advisor to number of local Nepali and non-Nepali organizations. Dr. Niraula has been and continues to be a strong unifying and driving force among Nepali as well as South Asian American communities in the United States of America. He also continues to work on the development, promotion, and preservation of Nepali arts and culture in the United States.

In addition to his involvement in local Nepali American communities, Dr. Niraula has also been involved in raising funds to support education of some of the neediest children in Nepal. With his and friends efforts, schools and school libraries have been established in some of the poorest communities in Nepal. While focusing on building stronger Nepali American communities in the United States, Dr. Niraula also remains equally involved in Nepal’s efforts to bring lasting peace, democracy, political stability, and prosperity in his native country. His contributions and campaign to support the democratic movement, protection of human and civil rights in his native country--Nepal remain immense. He has been one of the most respected driving forces to create a unified campaign to support movement for democracy, protection of human and civil rights and restoration of peace in Nepal.

Dr. Niraula quite frequently appears on radios and televisions on local, national and international issues concerning local immigrant communities and his native country-Nepal. He serves as an expert/resource person for various local and international groups on Nepal related issues.

As a graduate student, Dr. Niraula was reported to be probably the first foreign students to lead a student body of an Ivy League higher education institution. As the President of Student body at Teachers College, Columbia University, he led numerous efforts to improve the educational opportunities for all students. As a leader of graduate and postgraduate student-body who came from over 100 different countries, he led numerous on-campus reform initiatives—such as improvement of instructional technology, library resources, and other non-academic support services. He represented students on College’s Board of Trustees and Columbia University Senate.

He is also the recipient of number of prestigious awards and recognitions for his outstanding leadership in teaching, research, education policy and advocacy work around urban, immigrant education and issues concerning underserved communities in New York State and beyond. As a post graduate student, he was recognized as an outstanding leader by his fellow students, administration and faculty.

In 2006, Dr. Niraula was honored as one of the outstanding and distinguished South Asian community leaders by the Comptroller of City of New York in 2006. In 2007, he was presented with a New York City Council Citation recognizing him as one of the most outstanding residents of New York by Council member John Liu. In 2008, he received an Outstanding Leadership awards from America Nepal Friendship Society in recognition of his efforts to bring the people of Nepal and United States closer together. In 2009, Dr. Niraula was decorated with “Asian American Hall of Fame” award by Asian American Coalition. He has many more awards and recognitions to his credit.

Starting his formal schooling at the age of 13 at small rural village school in a remote hilly district of Terahthum, Nepal, Dr. Niraula excelled as an outstanding achiever throughout his schooling years. Dr. Niraula is a graduate of Tribhuwan University of Nepal and holds double masters and a doctorate from Columbia University’s prestigious Teachers College.