Jianhua (Andrew) Zhao, PhD, President

• Prof. Jianhua (Andrew) Zhao joined the University in 2008 after earning his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh. His research interests include globalization, capitalism, family and kinship, clothing and the clothing industry, and anthropological political economy. His geographical area of interest is in China and more broadly East Asia. Since joining UofL, He has published a monograph entitled, The Chinese Fashion Industry: An Ethnographic Approach, and numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. His current research projects include the fashion industry and family businesses in China.

• Dr. Zhao is also a board member of the Association of Chinese Americans in Kentuckiana and the Louisville Metro AAPI Task Force.

Mahavir Singh, D.V.M., Ph.D., Vice President

• Mahavir is a faculty in the ULSOM Department of Physiology where he conducts both research and teaching activities. His laboratory has been actively investigating the cellular, and molecular mechanisms of diseases employing state-of-the-art genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, proteomic, and epigenomic approaches. The overarching goal of his laboratory is to identify new disease pathways and metabolic interactions that can be successfully targeted, with a translational view towards expediting the development of potential strategies to correct dysregulated cellular perturbations that are responsible for the disease etiology.

• In his spare time, Dr. Singh and Mrs. Singh enjoy participating in philanthropic activities.

Shuying Sha, Ph.D, Treasurer

• Shuying joined the UofL School of Nursing as a statistician and faculty member at the beginning of 2021. She is a passionate statistical teacher as described by her students, and she loves working with researchers in different fields on research design and data analysis. This is her first role on an executive board, but she looks forward to contributing her time and efforts to the AAPI community, especially here at UofL.

• In her spare time, she likes to read books on culture, history, philosophy, psychology, and fiction, as she has a background in philosophy and psychology!

Lauren Bae, Program and Events Coordinator

• Lauren joined the UofL community in May 2021 as the new Online Learning Program Manager in the Delphi Center. She moved to Louisville from the Washington, D.C. area in October 2020 to support her husband’s military assignment at Fort Knox, and really enjoys the small city pace here.

• Lauren is a joyful mother of a young son and two stepdaughters and enjoys bringing people together to find connection. She is honored to serve in this role and looks forward to meeting you at one of the many upcoming events we will host.

Kellen Choi, D.O., Membership Coordinator

• Kellen Choi, D.O., FACOS is a fellowship trained urologist specializing in pelvic reconstructive surgery, neurourology, and voiding dysfunction at UofL Health. She is also a faculty at the University of Louisville School of Medicine where she is passionate about medical education and teaching students. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her family and play the piano with her daughters. She is fluent in Korean and loves to cook Korean foods for her friends! She moved to Louisville from Houston, Texas.

Tara Hanley, At-Large Member

• Tara is an administrative assistant in the Adult & Transfer Student Admissions Office and obtained a Bachelor’s in Communications from the University of Louisville in 2020. She is biracial, with her mother being an immigrant from South Korea, and is passionate about learning and exploring her heritage and culture. Tara is honored to be a part of this group and excited to assist with promoting and supporting UofL’s AAPI community. In her free time, she loves to work on local films, read, and spend time with her dog, Kiki.

Danial A. Malik, MPH, Secretary

• Danial (he/him/his) is a recent first-generation graduate from the University of Louisville School of Public Health & Information Sciences and is a current staff member with the Division of Surgical Oncology. Being a first-generation transplant from Pakistan, he realized the importance of having great support groups and resources as imperative to thriving and succeeding in academia. 

• His goals in joining the AAPI FSA are to create and foster a safe, yet resourceful space from tried experiences as an immigrant, so that others in a similar position can use this platform to thrive and build on their goals. He looks forward to working with the AAPI FSA and meeting individuals from the many walks of life that make up UofL.

Jonathan Sayat, M.D, At-Large Member

• Jonathan (he/him/his) is a Filipino-American originally from Ohio. He completed his residency and fellowship in General Academic Pediatrics at the University of Louisville in 2005, and is now an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UofL as well as an attending physician for the Norton Children’s Medical Group – Novak clinic. This practice not only serves Louisville’s most vulnerable and under-resourced families, but is also the main teaching site for medical students and residents on their outpatient pediatric clerkships/rotations. Jonathan is grateful for this opportunity to serve alongside his fellow AAPI community. 

Mani Vangalur, At-Large Member

• Mani Vangalur is an Indian-American originally from Chennai/Madras, India. He completed his undergraduate studies there and completed his Masters in Electrical Engineering at the University of Louisville in 1999. He is currently a Web Developer Senior at the Speed School of Engineering. He currently serves as a Commissioner on CODRE (Commission of Diversity and Racial Equity), Staff Senator and is on the Staff Morale and Engagement Committee. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve along with everyone on the AAPI board.

Kalpana Venkatasubramanian, Ph.D, At-Large Member 

• Kalpana was born and raised in New Delhi, India where she began working on developmental issues connected with poverty, employment, and regional development. She moved to the United States in 2007 to study the human dimensions of climate change, a global challenge that cuts across multiple vulnerabilities.
  Kalpana recently moved with her family to Louisville from New Orleans. 

• She joined UofL as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geographic and Environmental Sciences in Fall 2022. Outside work, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing with her two young daughters, and learning and singing Indian classic music.

T. Gerard Bradley, BDS, MS, Dr.Med.Dent. Interim Provost, University of Louisville - Executive Champion

•  Dr. T. Gerard Bradley joined the University of Louisville as Dean of the School of Dentistry in August 2016. He is currently serving as Interim Provost for the University of Louisville.
• Before coming to UofL, Dr. Bradley was Chair and Professor of Developmental Sciences at Marquette University School of Dentistry and served also as the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. He previously served as the Program Director of the Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics at Marquette and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. Dr. Bradley also had an orthodontic practice during his time in Wisconsin.

tgerard.bradley@louisville.edu

Meagan West, Employee Success Center Liaison

• Meagan is an experienced higher education professional with a demonstrated history of student hiring, training, and recruiting. Meagan holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Higher Education Administration from the University of Louisville, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Louisville.

• Currently, Meagan is the Training Specialist in the Employee Success Center at the University of Louisville. Her focus is to support faculty and staff in offering professional development opportunities, creating a culture of connection through advising the Employee Resource Groups and coordinating the Mentoring for Success program, and assisting the center with onboarding and recognition.

meagan.west@louisville.edu