Anjali Doshi is a Scientist at Kanvas Biosciences working in the spatial microbiome field. She received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University in 2023; her graduate research focused on the field of synthetic biology. As the YJA Director of Education from 2016-17, she worked with board members to create YJA Pathshala, an online, multimedia Jain course with participants ranging from ages 14-75. She has also been a Pathshala teacher at JSMC and a JAB participant, moderator, and administrator. Contact her with questions and ideas at anjali.doshi@yja.org.

Anand is a first-year PhD student at MIT, studying economic theory. When he's not thinking about designing markets, he loves to read, go on Chipotle runs (as opposed to regular running), and feel bad about being a Chicago Bears fan in the year 2024. Anand has served on two YJA boards and one convention committee as Midwest Regional Coordinator, Director of Events, and an Adult Volunteer Co-Lead in 2018. He can't wait to make new friends and learn more about Jainism at this year's Convention. Please feel free to reach out at anand.shah@yja.org!

Anish is a software engineer currently working remotely from NJ. He recently graduated from Georgia Tech and formerly served as Director of Technology on the YJA Board. He grew up in NJ and attended pathshala, where he realized he had a strong interest in Jainism. In August 2020, Anish built a literature search engine called Jain Quantum for ease of use and accessibility of Jain literature and philosophy. In his free time, he enjoys playing bansuri and piano.

Bhuvni is a software engineer at Sprout Social and a recent graduate of UIC where she studied Computer Science & Economics. She is really passionate about the Tech X Social Impact and uplighting underrepresented voices in the space. After a couple years on the YJA Education and Publications committees, she was a Daytime Co-lead for the 2022 convention and the YJA Director of Education from 2022-2023. She has also been a JSMC pathshala student and a JAB participant and moderator. Contact her with questions and ideas at bhuvni.shah@yja.org. Outside Jainism, Bhuvni enjoys dancing, hiking, nyc games, and vegan donuts.

Bindu Malbari is professionally an IT consultant; passionately, an artist; and a devoted advocate for spreading love and compassion. Residing in Atlanta, GA, with her husband and 21-year-old twins, they have fostered over 55 cats and dogs, volunteered at a local horse rescue, sponsored orphans, conducted health camps in Nepal, organized free art camps for kids, and led a food drive for 600 families during COVID-19. She firmly advocates that fostering mindfulness is paramount for uplifting others and enhancing the world.

Charmi is a New Jersey Native and currently practicing as a Pediatric Dentist in Tampa, Florida. Her passions include yoga, bharatanatyam, playing tennis, and singing. She has been an active part of YJA, beginning her first executive board term in 2010 and ending with serving as Co-Chair from 2018-2019. She is proud and excited seeing how far YJA has progressed over the years!

Chintav is a New Jersey native and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied Marketing, Operations, and Systems Engineering. Since then, he has been a strategy and technology consultant for Fortune 500 companies. He also enjoys learning about the deeper aspects of Jainism, spirituality, and philosophy. Having been involved with YJA for many years as a Co-Chair for the 2018 YJA Convention and a Director of Education and Project Development, he can’t wait to see everyone again in Atlanta!

Cogen Bohanec currently holds the position of Assistant Professor in Sanskrit and Jain Studies at Arihanta Institute where he teaches various courses on Jain philosophy and its applications. In addition, he is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Claremont School of Theology (CST) where he teaches Sanskrit, and he has taught numerous classes on South Asian Culture & Religions and Sanskrit language at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley. Dr. Bohanec specializes in the Jain and Hindu traditions, comparative dharma traditions, philosophy of religion, theo-ethics (virtue ethics, and environmental and animal ethics in particular), and Sanskrit language and literature, and has numerous publications in those areas, particularly in the fields of Jain and Hindu Studies amongst other disciplines. He has a PhD in “Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion” with an emphasis in Hindu Studies from GTU, where his research emphasized ancient Indian languages, literature, and philosophical systems. He also holds an MA in Buddhist Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies at GTU where his research primarily involved translations of P?li Buddhist scriptures in conversation with the philology of the Hindu Upani?ads. He is the author of “Bhakti Ethics, Emotions and Love in Gau??ya Vai??ava Metaethics” (Lexington, 2024), an interdisciplinary study that frames traditional Hindu themes of ecotheology, ecofeminist theology, feminist care ethics, within a framework of virtue ethics in conversation with a bhakti-based psychology of emotions. Currently he is largely engaged in publication and research on various aspects of the Jain tradition, emphasizing translations and analyses of Jain Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Gujarati texts, but is also publishing academic works on various topics within the Hindu tradition.

Deesha Ajmera is a Quality Engineer at W. L. Gore & Associates; her company and work focusing on medical devices that improve and save lives. After serving as the YJA Director of Education from 2021-2022, she was inspired to continue her own spiritual journey by further studying Jainism under Rashtrasant Param Gurudev Shree Namaramuni Maharaj Saheb. She has also been a Pathshala teacher at JSMW and a JAB participant and moderator. Contact her with questions and ideas at deesha.ajmera@yja.org.

Devangi Shah works as Program Manager at Citigroup in Tampa Florida. She has been actively involved with the Jain Society of Tampa Bay for over 15 years in various roles as a Pathshala teacher, Pathshala Chair as well as Pathshala Coordinator. She enjoys learning and understanding Truth expressed in Jinwani. She loves to simplify the basic principles of Jainism to enable today’s generation to understand them and practice them in their daily lives.

Devendra I Mehta is a family oriented father of 6 and grandfather of 3, and served in the capacity of gyanshala teacher, President, Trustee and Vice Chair at Jain Vishwa Bharati temple in Orlando. He is President of the CFCHF, a children's charity. He is a Professor, Pediatric gastroenterologist, manages a research laboratory and directs the GI fellowship program. His areas of research cover a wide area of GI and Nutrition disorders and has published many papers, chapters and edited a book. One key area is the impact of Preksha Dhyan in ADHD in India, as well as in US college students and GI patients. He loves cricket, outdoors, ran half marathons, and climbed up to the base camp of Mt Everest. His hobby is comparing modern physics to Jain tenets in agams. As a practicing Jain he has taken the 12 anuvrat vows, avoids himsa to the utmost, and has completed several types of fasts including Maas Khaman (30 days), 2 Varshitaps, and just completed 14 mo of 3 day consecutive fasts a week.

Dr. Nimisha Parekh is a gastroenterologist and brings extensive knowledge in the field of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. She completed her undergraduate, medical degree as well as internal medicine training and chief residency at Tulane University in New Orleans. Fellowship training was continued at University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and University of Chicago. She joined faculty at University of California Irvine in Dec 2006 and currently is Clinical Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean of Faculty Development. She has been instrumental in starting a leadership academy, improving mentoring, and curating professional development programs for faculty and trainees. Nimisha is passionate about helping students to pursue careers in science and healthcare. She is the Founder and Director of the Pipeline program, Summer Healthcare Experience program. Nimisha lives in Southern California and is an active member of the Jain Study Group at Jain Center of Southern California which discusses various Jain scriptures. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, yoga, hiking, stock investing, and traveling.

Dr. Pritesh Mutha is a triple board certified physician in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Lifestyle Medicine with advanced training in Interventional Gastroenterology and Endoscopy. He is an associate professor at UT Health Houston, Texas and has published several peer-reviewed publications in esteemed medical journals. He is also the Director of the Third Space Endoscopy program for the Center for Interventional Gastroenterology (iGUT) at UTHealth, a comprehensive program focusing on cutting-edge endoscopic management of gastrointestinal diseases. Beyond his clinical endeavors, he is a co-founder of the altruistic non-profit organization, "Stress Academy," dedicated to empowering individuals in conquering stress from within. Dr. Mutha has been a passionate learner and lifelong practitioner of Jain philosophy. He has been imparting teachings of Jain philosophy to both children and adults for over a decade.

Gaurav is a software engineer in San Francisco, CA. He graduated from UC Berkeley in 2022 with a double major in Computer Science and Applied Math, and also attended his first YJA convention in 2022. He is extremely passionate about the environment and animal welfare, and spends his free time trying new vegan restaurants, snowboarding, and playing soccer. He is excited to attend his second YJA convention and discuss Jainism, philosophy, and practically anything else with his fellow convention attendees.

Harsha Nahata is a producer for NPR's Ted Radio Hour, where she has created segments about mindfulness and meditation, artificial intelligence, and how to navigate shocking life changes, among others. Prior to NPR, she worked on Futuro Media’s race and politics podcast, In The Thick, where she covered the latest news from the perspective of communities of color. She is also a contributor to Self Evident, a podcast that tells Asian America’s stories. As the child of immigrants, Harsha is interested in storytelling as a way to explore identity and connect with her roots. Her work has also been featured in The Juggernaut, Huffington Post, StoryCorps, and Catalyst Midland, among others. Harsha received a master’s degree from the Newmark School of Journalism and a bachelor's degree in public policy from the University of Michigan.

Hemang is a spiritual seeker whose practice comes from his Jain mother, Hindu father, and the energy healing school of Pranic Healing. He is a pathshala teacher at the Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago and is a middle school math teacher in Chicago Public Schools. When he is not teaching, Hemang enjoys spending time with loved ones (especially his 18 month-old son), eating delicious vegan food, playing games, meditating, and being outdoors. Hemang enjoys sharing his knowledge and his network with others, so reach out to him.

Hetali Lodaya is a staff attorney at Legal Aid of NC's education justice project. She works at the intersection of civil rights law, policy, and public education work, exploring the ways we can make our public school systems work better for all. She has lived and worked all over the country and is a proud alumni of UNC-Chapel Hill and Michigan Law School. After attending her first convention in 2010, she served in various leadership positions with YJA, and has also taught Jain religious classes.

Hillary is a second year law student at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a Toll Public Interest Scholar, where she is interested in the intersection of civil rights, labor rights, and democracy. She attended Pathshala at JSNT, has been involved with YJA ever since she aged in, and can't wait for convention! In her free time, she loves to read, bake her own eggless dessert concoctions, do arts and crafts, and play board games with her friends.

Jagdish N. Sheth, Charles H. Kellstadt Professor of Business, Goizueta Business School, Emory University. He is globally known for his scholarly contributions in consumer psychology, competitive strategy and geopolitical analysis. He has over 60 years experience in teaching and research. He and his wife, Madhu Sheth established the Sheth Family Foundation to support several charities in India and the United States and the Madhuri and Jagdish Sheth Foundation to support scholars and scholarship in the field of Marketing. The Sheth Foundation also supports the AMA-Sheth Foundation Doctoral Consortium, hosted annually by various universities.

Jonathan Dickstein (PhD) is currently Assistant Professor of Jain Studies at Arihanta Institute and Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion at Claremont School of Theology. Jonathan specializes in South Asian Religions, Religion and Ecology, and Comparative Religious Ethics. He received his doctoral degree in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he wrote his dissertation on ancient Indian animal taxonomies and their relevance for religious ritual and dietary practice. His current work focuses on Jainism and Ecology, Critical Animal Studies, Food Studies, and Diaspora Studies. Jonathan has published in a wide array of interdisciplinary journals on topics such as veganism and politics, yoga and diet, Jain veganism, and the ethic of nonviolence (ahi?sa). Jonathan considers himself a scholar-practitioner, having spent many years not only in libraries but also in public advocating for justice for both humans and nonhumans alike.

Dr. Kunal Parikh is an inventor, entrepreneur, and investor working to alleviate human suffering at scale. He is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) where he leads an interdisciplinary team creating novel solutions to major, unmet healthcare needs. He earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at JHU and BS in Chemical Engineering at The Ohio State University. He has been recognized as a Leader of Tomorrow for the Mid-Atlantic bioeconomy and by Forbes 30 under 30 in Healthcare.

Leah Garcés is the CEO and president of Mercy For Animals and author of Grilled: Turning Adversaries into Allies to Change the Chicken Industry. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in the animal protection movement, she has partnered with corporations, communities, and governments on her mission to build a better food system. She is the founder of our Transformation program, working to transition factory farmers from industrial animal agriculture to production of specialty crops, such as mushrooms and hemp. Leah oversaw international campaigns in 14 countries at the World Society for the Protection of Animals and launched Compassion in World Farming in the United States. Her work has been featured in national and international media outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, BuzzFeed, VICE, and the Chicago Tribune. She has presented at global forums, including TEDx, RIO+10, and the World Health Organization’s Global Forum for Health Research.

Manoj Jain, MD MPH is an infectious disease physician and writer. He is a consultant to the World Bank on HIV, the WHO on TB, and has been interviewed by CNN and NPR. Dr. Jain is a professor at Emory University and served as an advisor for the Memphis mayor and was dubbed “Dr. Fauci of Memphis.” He has published over 22 columns for the Washington Post, and 250 for the USA Today-TN. He is the founder of the Gandhi-King Conference, which promotes non-violence. He teaches mindfulness and meditation, authored the children’s book "Mahavira - the Hero of Nonviolence", and contributed to Jain Way of Life.

Mehul is a spiritual learner who explores his inner world while passing through an outer one. His journey started in youth pathshala and his paradigms shifted a few years later. Now, he places emphasis on a growing appetite for an inner journey. As an open minded individual, he has learnt from both Jainism and other streams of spirituality. He is a presenter at the Tampa temple and has experience speaking at USF and YJA 2012. He works as an IT consultant and is the father of 3 wonderful daughters.

Mishi is a lawyer in New York, specializing in Appellate and Supreme Court litigation. She is originally a Houston native (go Astros!) and graduate of Stanford Law School, and she is passionate about public policy issues, including immigrants’ rights and animal rights. She credits the latter interest in part to YJA through which she discovered veganism and has now been vegan for seven years. Mishi previously served as the 2020-21 YJA Co-Chair and co-founded a college and career readiness program for the Houston Jain community. She's always happy to discuss all things law, policy, politics, and taco bell!

Monica Chen is the Executive Director of New Roots Institute, a nonprofit organization empowering the next generation with knowledge and training to end factory farming. Previously, she taught students at elementary, middle, and high school levels. In addition to classroom teaching, Monica has worked in prison, crisis support services, and residential environmental education. She received her BA from UC Berkeley and her Master’s in Education from the University of New Mexico.

Naina Mehta, M.D. is a board certified Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician. She specializes in the treatment of developmental disorders in children such as ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is her main area of expertise. She received her fellowship training at The Childrens’ Hospital of Philadelphia in 1994 and was the medical director of the Behavioral and Developmental center of Arnold Palmer hospital in Orlando for 5 years. She is now semi-retired and sees patients on a consult basis only. She has a keen interest in the use of yoga and meditation to help children with varying conditions including ADHD, anxiety and other behavioral disorders. She has several articles and papers published showing the beneficial effects of yoga and meditation in students with ADHD and has undertaken several community based projects here in the USA and India. She is part of the Jain community, previous Gyanshala teacher and now coordinator of Gyanshala at the Jain Vishwa Bharti Center in Orlando. She learnt the techniques of Preksha Meditation and yoga and its therapeutic benefits, from the Samanijis in Orlando, trained under Acharya Mahashraman. She practice’s daily meditation and pranayama, and has seen the wholesome benefits of this practice in her own life. Being a mother of 6 children and now grandmother of 3, she has found a healthy balance between her family life and her medical career. She will be talking about the community projects she has carried out in India as well as the implementation into her own life and practice here, in the USA.

Nikhil Bumb is a Managing Director at FSG, a global mission-driven strategy, research and learning organization focused on advancing equitable systems change. Based in Washington, DC, he leads FSG’s work in the U.S. on the role of companies in creating social and environmental change. He previously helped launch Deloitte’s Social Impact consulting practice, lived in Kenya working on financial inclusion for dairy farmers with Technoserve, and helped design a social business for Medtronic. Nikhil serves on the Board of the global health nonprofit ITPC.

Pravin K. Shah is a founding member of Jain Study Center of North Carolina (Raleigh). He is a chairperson of JAINA Education Committee and advisor to JAINA YJA and YJP youth organizations. He is also a member of the Harvard University Pluralism Project Advisory Council and director of Triangle Interfaith Association since 2002. He is a Jain scholar, vegan and activist against animal cruelty. He has published several articles and books on Jain philosophy, cruelty to animals, and Comparative religions. His primary objective is to prepare and publish Jain religion material for Jain youths born in the Western world. He offers two-day workshops on Jainism to educate the Jain community including Q and A sessions of contemporary situations. As a chairperson of Jaina Education Committee, he has published a complete set of Jaina Päthashälä Educational Material covering elementary level to college level education. Today more than 5000 Päthashälä students across North America use this material. He is also the author of the books: Jainism - a Religion of Ecology and Non-violence, the Book of Compassion and Essence of World Religions. He has established the Jain eLibrary website www.jaineLibrary.org which provides Jain religious information worldwide electronically free of charge

Purvi is an IT Project Manager with experience in healthcare, data, robotics, and AI. She is also a dancer and co-founder of a growing Bollywood dance company, P&P Dance Crew, with locations in Connecticut and now Atlanta! Purvi enjoys serving her local community and has been an active member of the Indian and Jain communities in Connecticut and Atlanta for several years. Born in India and lived in the UK and Connecticut, Purvi is now a proud ATL resident! Talk to her about dance, Bollywood, and Marvel! Being a recent alum of YJA, Purvi is excited to be back as a session speaker and continue spreading more #yjalove!

Raj Salecha is a core member of the Jaina Education Committee and Jain eLibrary since 2014, playing a role in expanding the digital footprint through various projects: jainelibrary, agamsearch, jainqq, jainism-says blog & books recycle. He's been JAB Admin as well and been instrumental for Virtual JAB @ Jaina 2019 convention. Additionally, Raj advocates for veganism to acharyas in India, aiming to broaden ethical practices within the Jain community. Professionally, he is the Business Intelligence & Analytics Lead at Red Bull, based in Santa Monica, CA, where he specializes in data-driven strategy.

Reshma Shah is a Big 4 CPA/ESG consultant by day, a Pathshala teacher (at Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago) during the weekends, budding Instagram influencer in the evenings, and full-time wife (of Vipul Shah) and (s)mother to Anand, Janvi, and Ravi. Reshma has been the lead Chicago JAB coach since 2011 and is known as “reshmom” to the YJA community. Feel free to stop Reshma and talk to her about any topic including social issues, how to make any meal Jain and vegan friendly, Bollywood gossip, party planning, traveling, TV shows/movies, and podcasts (she will definitely have an opinion on it all!)

Rishab Jain is from Memphis, TN (Go Grizzlies!), and graduated from Georgia Tech in 2021. He currently works at Clark Street Associates, a consulting firm based around climate technology companies. Most recently, he completed a term as the Director of the 2024 Legends Dance Championship, an intercollegiate circuit supporting the South Asian performing arts. Rishab is a part of a long YJA legacy within his extended family, who helped found and run the organization. He is thrilled to be back in Atlanta once again and excited to meet everyone attending this year’s YJA Convention!

Rohan is an incoming junior at the University of Pennsylvania studying Finance and Molecular and Cellular Biology as part of the Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing tennis, and watching sports. He is also a YJA College Chapters Co-Lead. Feel free to find Rohan to talk about anything business, college, or sports related!

Saloni Nahar is a Chicago based writer & actor. She has completed a writer’s cycle with the Rickshaw Film Foundation, an organization dedicated to strengthening scripts that center around South Asian stories. She performs with an improv team called @conflictofinterestimprov. She’s passionate about representation in media and social impact work.

Saman Shrutpragya is a revered spiritual guide and prolific author. He founded The Peace of Mind Foundation to foster inner peace and promote yoga education. Samanji integrates ancient Indian scriptures with modern science. He has traveled to over 35 countries, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Brazil, the USA, and the UK, delivering lectures at institutions like Oxford, Cambridge, and Berkeley. Saman Shrutpragya's teachings blend spirituality and practicality, resonating across diverse religious backgrounds. He inspires the youth, guiding spiritual journeys and emotional balance. Author of over 70 books on healthy, happy, and spiritual living, including titles like Living Meditation, Jain Dharma, and Body Language.

Sapna is a former YJA Board Member and a current member of the YJA Board of Trustees. She works as an employment lawyer at Beth Israel Lahey Health, a values-based health care organization. Prior to that, Sapna also worked at a law firm in Atlanta, GA before moving to the Boston area where she lives with her husband. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and Emory University School of Law. Sapna enjoys exploring new cities (CDMX is at the top of the list) and trying new foods.

Satej is a Chicago native and a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied Information Systems. He is currently a Technology Consultant at PwC advising Fortune 500 companies. In his free time, Satej enjoys skiing, trying new restaurants, traveling, and watching sports. Satej has been attending YJA events since 2014 and has served on the YJA Executive Board as the 21-22 Co-Chair, the 20-21 Director of Project Development, and the 19-20 Director of Publications. He is extremely passionate about the broader community and helping grow YJA and its innovative efforts to spread the #yjalove and Jainism.

Founder and CEO of Seva Global - Growing Business Through Cultural Competency. Seema Jain has years of experience with helping companies become more culturally competent when engaging with people from different backgrounds. In her past role as Senior Director, Multicultural Affairs at Marriott International, Seema had responsibility for developing tools and resources for Marriott associates and hotel properties to enhance cultural competencies to better serve the company’s broad diversity of guests and customers. Prior to joining Marriott, Seema spent several years in healthcare for Baxter and Caremark International where she focused on acquisition analysis of physical therapy centers. She also had her own independent consulting business where she prepared valuations for her clients seeking to acquire physical therapy centers. Seema earned her BS in Finance from Miami University of Ohio and her MBA from DePaul University in Chicago. She is also a co-founder of two non-profit organizations – Supporting Excellence in Education Foundation (SEED), which awards scholarships to high school students and the Young Jains of America (YJA) a national youth organization created to share Jain heritage and culture.Seema lives in Chicago with her husband and has three adult children ages 28, 26, and 23. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, cooking, and traveling.

Sheily is a software engineer who graduated from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!). She has worked at both large tech firms and a smaller high-growth startup, and is passionate about learning what it takes to build a product. She worked on founding a mental health non-profit in college, and currently loves to write, create and teach dance choreographies, and spend time outdoors playing games and going on hikes. Sheily has lived in Michigan, New York, California, and is looking for her next adventure. She has also served in YJA leadership on both the Executive Board and Convention Committee in the past, and is so excited to meet new faces and reconnect with her YJA community at this year's Convention!

Shelly Goel, a Dallas native, graduated from Stanford where she got her Masters and Bachelors in Computer Science, with a research focus in Medical AI. In her free time, Shelly is very involved in the Social Dance community both on campus and in the Bay Area. She loves leading social dance workshops and Bollywood dance nights and creating fun, inclusive experiences for everyone! You can also find Shelly outdoors (biking, hiking, nature photography, playing any sport!), punning absolutely anything, holding chai socials, and exploring various art forms through creating personalized keepsakes for everyone around her!

Shilpa is a cybersecurity lead during the day, an avid cook in the evenings of all things chatpata (extra green chilis please). She is a pathshala teacher on weekends who loves to use arts and craft to teach Jainism. She was on the very first YJA convention committee in 1994 (when registration was done through snail mail) and is so proud to see the extreme success of YJA 30 years later. She lives in Chicago and calls the Jain center her second home.

Shukan is a software engineer and Taco Bell double fire rewards member who has spent his career at startups, where the lows are low, the highs are high, and the coffee pot is never quite empty. Originally from Jersey, Shukan now navigates the bustling streets of NYC, where he reevaluates his life choices every time he pays more for a latte than a full meal back home. In his free time, you can catch Shukan playing basketball, powerlifting, or attending dance workshops. Talk to Shukan about anything startups / AI, Jain philosophy, or food recs in Atlanta near his alma mater (Georgia Tech). This is Shukan's first ever YJA and he's excited to meet everyone!

Sonia grew up in Dallas, TX and has served on previous YJA boards as South Regional Coordinator, Director of Public Relations, and Co-Chair. She is a Pathshala teacher for high school students, has served on the JSNT executive board, and is currently on the JAINA Long Range Planning committee. Professionally, Sonia is a product line manager at Texas Instruments where she lives out her passion in enriching people's lives with affordable technology. She loves traveling around the world with her husband (Jay), reading mystery novels, and has been vegan for the past two years.

Dr. Sunita Jain is a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation and practices in Memphis, TN. She has been involved with YJA and JAINA for more than twenty years serving as a speaker and coordinator. She also teaches kids pathshala and leads adult swadhyay sessions in the Jain Center of Greater Memphis. She takes pride in being able to incorporate her Indian culture and Jain values in her professional and personal life.

Dr. Sushil Jain was born in Rajasthan, India but grew up in Kentucky. He is a well-recognized retired Naval Officer. He served as commanding officer for Washington Navy Yard Hospital and Director of Medicine at Naval Hospital Bethesda. In addition, he served as an eye care consultant to The White House & the U.S. Capitol where he cared for nation’s leaders including past three presidents, Vice Presidents and their family members. He received many civil and military honors including highest Awards known as “Meritorious Service Medal” and “Legion of Merit” from President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush for Exemplary outstanding military services. He retired from the US Navy in 2003.Dr Jain’s superior leadership and management skills have resulted in many accomplishments to promote JSMW, JAINA and Jainism in North America. Following are just a few examples: He was instrumental in passing of Public Law 5202 (Vegetarian School Lunch Program). A program designed to provide plan based meal options to all school children. He organized two legislative conferences on Capitol Hill to promote peace, Non-violence and live help live subjects. Dr. Jain was also instrumental in President Obama celebrating Diwali annually. In April 2012, JAINA and its partners were organizing White House Dharma conference.

Umang is a native Michigander and got his Bachelor’s and Master’s from the University of Michigan (go blue!) in Computer Science Engineering with a focus in Business and Global Operations. He lives in New York City and is a software engineer for Zipline, a drone delivery startup. A big traveler, Umang loves adventures, running, hiking, and being with friends. He served on the 2016, 2020, 2022 YJA Convention Committee and the 2021 Executive Board. Feel free to reach out at umang.lathia@yja.org!

Vineet is a founding engineer at an early stage startup called Flipturn, a company helping companies manage their Electric Vehicle operations. He studied computer science at the University of Maryland and currently lives in NYC. He enjoys traveling, playing board games, and is an avid golfer. He has been to 4 conventions previously and was the Director of Technology in 2018.

Vishal Mummigatti, originally from New Jersey and with family in Charlotte, NC, now calls Seattle, WA home, serving as a Senior Product Manager at Amazon Web Services. He is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology (B.S. Industrial Engineering) and Duke University (M.B.A). In his personal time, he partakes in mentoring/professional development initiatives, exploring different cuisines, and avidly supports Manchester United while following soccer leagues worldwide.

Vishwa is a software engineer, street photographer, and serial hobbyist. Originally from Tampa, she now lives in New York, where she questions her decision every time the temperature dips below 40F. On the weekends, you'll find her on long walks, watching SNL, and peer pressuring her friends into going to her favorite ice cream place (maybe while on a long walk). She feels strongly that everyone should enjoy smart home lighting.

Aashi Jain is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Ottawa, specializing in end-of-life studies. Her research delves into the ethical decision-making processes of individuals approaching the end of their lives, exploring choices between medical intervention and Sallekhana—a Jain tradition of voluntary fasting to death—and how these decisions contribute to their sense of meaning-making. During her master's at Florida International University, she looked into the intersection of faith-based healing and medical practices, particularly through mantras (Bhaktamara Stotra). In her leisure time, Aashi enjoys nature walks, hiking, skating, and discovering new cafes.

Abhinav is a student at the University of Massachusetts, studying computer science and mathematics. He had the opportunity to emcee the Talent Show at the 2022 YJA Convention in Dallas and is excited to emcee again in Atlanta. He enjoys crafting and performing sketches and standup comedy, finding joy in making people laugh. In his free time, Abhinav loves spending time outdoors, traveling, and meeting new people. Feel free to reach out at jain3abhinav@gmail.com to talk about anything from tech to philosophy, or to recommend a bingeable sitcom.

Aditya is a freshman at the University of Maryland studying Neuroscience and Business. In his free time, he loves to play badminton, watch Star Wars, and will be down to garba no matter the day or time. He currently serves as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator and was a JAINA Youth Activities Co-Lead last summer, and he is excited to bring his talents to convention!

Born and raised in central New Jersey, Anjali is a full time app developer and part-time musician now residing in Beaverton, Oregon. Entranced by the trees and mountains of the PNW, she had to make the move out west and now spends as much time as she can outdoors connecting with nature. Her music reflects her love for the outdoors, as well the complex feelings associated with growing up, looking for direction in life, and love.

Caley Smith is a scholar of early South Asian religious history and political imagination. His work focuses primarily on the conceptual continuities and disruptions between the Vedas and emergent ascetic and householder traditions. His current book project, The Invisible Mask, explores the ritual impersonation of the god Indra and its influence on the recitation traditions of early Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

While establishing a career in software engineering at JPMorgan, Cavin has also developed a passion for and business in music production. He mixes, masters, and produces tracks with artists from several backgrounds and has amassed over 25,000 total streams through collaborative projects. Cavin’s goal is to build a collective of talented Jain musicians, providing them a platform for their creative growth.

Harshita is a healthcare consultant based out of NYC (but will always proudly call New Jersey home). She is a Rutgers University alum, where she studied biomedical engineering and business administration. Harshita is passionate about service, travel, design, and social innovation. She is always chasing adventure, often literally – find her on runs, hikes, flights, and Strava!

Jainik Shroff is an incoming freshman at Northwestern University planning on pursuing a major in Economics and a minor in Data Science. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Jainik is an avid fan of all Chicago sports teams, especially the Bears! He also enjoys playing the piano and (re)watching the Dark Knight Trilogy. Jainik has been involved with the Publication and Education subcommittees on YJA over the past 4 years and is excited to continue his involvement in the YJA community!

Jinen Shah is a practicing optometrist in the Atlanta area at Luminary Eye Care, a private practice he founded in 2020. He is also a consultant for Tarsus Pharmaceuticals. He was originally born in London, England and moved to the states at an early age. He graduated from The University of Alabama at Birmingham's School of Optometry and Troy University. Jinen also served a term as the YJA Southeast Regional Coordinator for the 2013-2014 executive board, Social Committee Co-Lead for the 2014 YJA Convention, and Convention Co-Chair for the 2018 YJA Convention.

Mahima, a New Jersey native and Cornell University graduate, currently works in New York City at Square. She has been involved with YJA for several years as an Executive Board Member, Convention Committee Member, JIA Mentor, and Speaker. She loves playing board games, traveling to new places, and talking about philosophy & Jainism. Mahima is excited to meet all of you!

Monica Shah has been juggling the demands of a successful career, a social pull of religious community building, on both the local and national scale with a focus in Education and Youth, and of course an amazing multi-generational family. With a BS in Engineering (Go Blue!) and an MBA, Monica started working for a Fortune 100 CFO, and after 7 successful years she transitioned to Civil Service and is now a Cyber Security Executive in the DoD. Having been a member of several past YJA board positions and a YJA trustee, Monica is currently the Education Director for the Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington DC. She is currently living in the DC Suburbs with her two children while being the best friend to her spouse. And when work, family, and Jain Society aren't keeping her busy enough, she tries to stay up to date on the coolest music to enjoy or the latest city around the world to explore.

Born and raised in Jersey, Nami is a senior at Rutgers University (RU RAH RAH) studying Computer Science and Business Administration. In her free time, you can find her rating new ice-cream spots, running in circles, or hiding her oversized backpack from Spirit Airlines. This is Nami’s third YJA convention and she can’t wait to meet everyone! (and to run in more circles at garba)

A New Jersey native, Neha has lived the past 25 years in Marietta, GA. Neha graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in economics and most recently worked for Microsoft as a product manager until life circumstances forced her to stop working. At a very young age, she was diagnosed with an extremely rare potentially terminal disease, stage iv ideopathic pulmonary hypertension. 15 years after being diagnosed with this disease, she was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. Between managing her health, Neha enjoys baking sourdough bread, playing bridge and trading options.

Nita teaches Jainism to children in grades 9-12 at the Franklin Township, NJ Pathshala. She has also coached the New Jersey Jain Academic Bowl teams at JAINA Conventions since 2007. She led her teams to first place in 2009, 2011, and 2013. In 2005, she volunteered at Pujya Diptiben Shah’s (Hemyashasriji) Sunrise Children’s Camp and has organized these camps annually since 2006. She is one of the founder member who implemented teaching Gujarati to Pathshala students. Besides being a CPA, she is also an ACCA (United Kingdom), and holds two master’s degrees. Nita is currently working as Chief of Conference and Appeals Branch with New Jersey State Tax Dept.

Paheli Koradia, born and raised in MI, recently graduated from Michigan State’s Broad College of Business with a degree in supply chain mgmt and a minor in Entrepreneurship. She feels grateful for JSGD who has played a pivotal role in her life and led her to joining YJA 6 years ago. Since then, she has served as an LR, fundraising and college chapters team member, and is now a college chapters co-lead. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, traveling, and playing field hockey! This will be her 2nd convention, and she can't wait to meet new people and learn more about Jainism!

Based out of New York City, Parshva Vakharia is a private equity associate at EQT. Parshva has a wide range of interests. In terms of his musical interests, he has been playing the Tabla since the age of 7, learned Hindustani classical music during his childhood, and participated on a South Asian A Capella team in college. Parshva can't wait to be able to help lead the A Capella XYZ session at Convention!

Pranay is originally from California and now resides in New York. He works at a startup based as a software engineer and is also a part time wedding DJ. In his free time, he enjoys binge watching anything and everything related to Marvel, eating Taco Bell, and playing and collecting board games with his friends. Pranay has been involved in several YJA Convention and Executive Boards in the past, and is excited to come back to YJA this year as a speaker!

Rahi is a student at George Washington University pursuing a double major in Political Science and International Affairs. Originally from Michigan, Rahi served as a YJA local representative for the Midwest and was a part of the publication's subcommittee for over 4 years, before now serving as the Director of Publications. She has done Rajasthani dance for over 7 years and is excited to share her passion with attendees!

Ravi is a sophomore Business Law major at Indiana University Bloomington. When he's not on calls or doing his (rigorous) coloring homework he loves to travel, play sports, and eat taco bell. After serving as the MidBEST RC, he is excited to help YJA reach new heights as the 2023-2024 Director of Fundraising and an XYZ session lead this year!! Feel free to contact him at ravi.shah@yja.org with any questions, good jokes, or balloon-making suggestions!

Rujul is an incoming freshman at UIC and will be majoring in biology as a part of their Guaranteed Pre-Professional Admissions program for dentistry. In her free-time, she loves to watch movies (especially Bollywood!), read, and do henna! Rujul is a Midwest LR, on the Education Committee, and the 2024 Convention Social Subcommittee. Rujul can't wait to meet new people and connect with old friends at this year's convention!

Rutwa is an undergraduate student at the University of Central Florida studying Health Sciences and Sociology. Rutwa loves all things artsy and is always looking for new creative outlets. She is on the YJA PR committee and serves as a Southeast LR. She also loves petting dogs, playing the NYT games, and going to coffee shops!

Saloni was born in India, migrated to US at 7, and grew up in a small town in Ohio. She studied at the University of Cincinnati as she was the 2nd woman of Indian origin in the School of Computer Engineering's history and now has 28+ years of experience in the telecom and financial industries. As a Software Engineering leader at Discover Financial Services, she currently leads the Payment Services File Transfer Platform. Her Jain roots are cultivated within her family where 5 of her Masis (mom's sisters) and her Nani (grandma) have taken Diksha (renounced the world). Saloni has been an active member of the Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago for 28+ years and a Pathshala teacher for 23+ years! Her YJA journey began as she attended the first YJA Convention in Chicago and more recently as she volunteered at the 2018/2022 Conventions. Both Satej and Saanji, her children, have been actively involved with YJA E-Boards and Convention Committees. Saloni is thrilled to be attending the Convention as a speaker this year and discuss “Prabhu ni Sadhana set to Cruise Control” both professionally and personally through the Jain Way of Life!

Sameer is a rising second-year medical student at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, who graduated from Rutgers University with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Economics with hopes of becoming a surgeon. In his free time, Sameer loves binge-watching reality TV, rooting for the NJ Devils, trying new foods, playing board games, and traveling. Sameer has served on the YJA Executive Board and Convention Committee as Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator and as a Social Programming Co-Lead in 2022. Sameer can't wait to connect with new and old friends in Atlanta this year while learning more about Jainism! Please reach out at sameer.shah@yja.org!

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Shilpi's life is all about curiosity, adventure, and most importantly - FUN! After moving to the Bay Area 6 years ago, graduating from UC Berkeley, and now working as a consultant in M&A Deals in San Francisco, Shilpi spends most of her time outside of work enriching and enjoying her passions. This includes traveling and learning about new cultures, nature, and exploring hikes. She also teaches bollywood dance classes to young kids every weekend, and enjoys playing pickleball, board games, and cooking (@shilpeats).

Shruti Shah is a distinguished leader in IT infrastructure and cloud technology, with a career spanning several decades in the insurance & Auto vertical . A former teacher at Pathshala and a JAB coach for the Jain Society of Atlanta, Shruti is dedicated to community service. In her leisure time, Shruti finds joy in engaging in Prabhu Bhakti, taking long walks, practicing yoga, dancing, and High School coaching. Proud wife of Himanshu Shah and mother to Niyomi and Bhavin. Shruti maintains strong family ties both in India and within the Atlanta Jain community.

Based in Chicago, Tejas Shah is a Principle Project Engineer at Intelsat, managing global projects on satellite-based Wi-Fi systems for Airlines around the world, and an energetic Jain community leader. Since 1997, he has been an active member of the Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago, where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees, and has previously served as the Sangh’s Chairman, President, and Secretary. Tejas is also a recipient of the JAINA Adult Recognition Award. He is a firm believer in promoting non-sectarian Sangh efforts, encouraging Jain youth to explore and spread Jainism, and cultivating Jain values in North America while retaining our Indian religious and spiritual culture. He has been a speaker, volunteer, donor, and promotor for YJA for several years, and is excited to be back at this year’s Convention in Atlanta!

Vanshika is a rising senior at the University of Maryland studying bioengineering. She is currently interning at Amgen. In her free time, she loves singing and performing. She is in an a cappella group called DaCadence at UMD. She is also the director of Maryland Minza and serves on the current YJA Executive Board/Convention Committee. She has been involved in YJA since she was 14 and is super excited to bring her love for singing to Convention! She also enjoys watching movies, playing word games, and trying new coffee shops!

Yashvi is a recent graduate and currently lives in Philadelphia, where she is starting medical school. In her free time, Yashvi enjoys dancing, art, doing spontaneous things with friends, and eating too much apple pie. Yashvi has been involved with YJA as a subcommittee member and a local representative, and has served on the 2022 Convention Committee. A Maryland native, she is also active in the JSMW sangh. Feel free to reach out anytime at yashvi.shah@yja.org!