WASHINGTON: The prestigious Immigrant Achievement Award will be given to Neeli Bendapudi, the Indian American president of Penn State University, for her contributions to US higher education this year.
Each year, the honour is given to a person or group that has demonstrated a commitment to upholding America's history as a nation of immigrants and advocating for compassionate immigration laws.
The award would be presented to 59-year-old Bendapudi at the DC Immigrant Achievement Awards reception. For nearly 30 years, Penn State President Dr Bendapudi’s career in higher education has been committed to student success, fostering inclusive excellence, and creating opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to thrive,” said Jeremy Robbins, executive director of the American Immigration Council.
“As an immigrant and trailblazer, she has spent years navigating the lack of diversity in leadership and the challenges confronting minority groups. This year, we are thrilled to commemorate Dr. Bendapudi for embodying the diverse contributions generations of immigrants bring to this nation and as a testament to the enduring power of our country’s immigrant history,” Robbins said.
Born and raised in India, Bendapudi relocated to the US to complete her doctoral studies at the University of Kansas and begin her career as an academic administrator and teacher.
She is the first woman and the first person of colour to hold the position of president of Penn State, where she oversees the institution's modern land-grant mission of teaching, research, and community service on 24 campuses as well as the online Penn State World Campus.
“The United States is a nation of immigrants, and I am merely one of many who have come to this country in search of America’s ‘golden door’ to opportunity and prosperity,” Bendapudi said.