Board Members

Purna Neupane is a co-founder of Advocacy for Refugee and Immigrants Services for Empowerment (ARISE). He has continuously dedicated his life to serving refugees and immigrants in need since 1990. He was born and brought up in a remote village in Bhutan and embarked on a remarkable journey of resilience since he was a college student. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Sherubtse College in Bhutan in 1991.  Right when he was planning to start a career as an educated youth in Thimphu, adversity struck. In 1992 he was forcefully evicted from his birth country along with his family and other One hundred thousand plus Bhutanese citizens by the Druk regime. He was forced out of the country for raising concerns about human rights and forceful eviction of Bhutanese of Nepali ethnicity. Purna became a refugee and resided in a refugee camp for 16 years in Nepal, where he initiated a high school education program for kids without access to education languishing in the refugee camps. In the meantime, he pursued his education and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology from North Bengal University in India. His persistence led him to the United States through the refugee resettlement process. He arrived in the U.S. in 2008 and was resettled in Worcester. Purna began his life in the U.S. and started working for the benefit of refugees and Immigrants. He continued his education at Clark University and completed his master’s in 2013. Purna is currently working for the empowerment of refugees and immigrants through ARISE.

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Lila K. Chamlagai, MPH  is a doctoral student at the Brown University School of Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Social Science Department. Lila was born and grew up in the Bhutanese refugee camp Jhapa Nepal. He came to the U.S. in 2011 and graduated from Springfield Central High School with the Bills and Melinda Gates Foundation’s: full-ride college scholarship. Prior to attending Brown, Lila served as a Youth Community Advisory Board (CAB) member at the Research Program on Children and Adversity at Harvard University and Boston College under Dr. Theresa Betancourt’s Lab. Lila is interested in investigating several questions that may ultimately help those suffering in a refugee community and elsewhere: 1) how socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and religion/faith impact mental health, depression, and ultimately lead to suicidal ideation; 2) why marginalized populations and low-income settings face significant health disparities; 3) how to leverage resources and improve mental health service delivery, finally 4.) Design and implement culturally congruent Interventions to promote mental health and well-being among the refugee and immigrant populations in the U.S. and low-middle-income nations. His scientific papers, Op-ed articles and commentaries have appeared in several media. 

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Madeleine DelVicario works in the Jandon Center for Community Engagement at Smith College focusing on ethical, reciprocal, asset-based community engagement. She connects students, faculty, and staff with community members and organizations to collaborate on community-driven social change projects. This year, she continues to head the Refugee and Immigrant Support Initiative and support the Smith College Food Rescue Network. Madeleine has a BA in Psychology and an MA in Psychology. Currently, she is completing an MSW program

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Dr. Achu Johnson Alexander, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Anna Maria College, is a distinguished cultural developmental psychologist renowned for her expertise in understanding the impact of culture on human development. With a focus on identity development and student learning among emerging adults, Dr. Alexander’s recent projects include culturally-informed explorations of college student career development. Her influence extends beyond the academic realm through active involvement in multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research projects, including investigations into body image among South Asian women, enhancing user experiences for small businesses, and understanding the challenges faced by emerging adults with chronic illnesses, specifically congenital heart defects.

As an engaged academic, Dr. Alexander has presented her work at prestigious conferences such as the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood, the New England Psychological Association, and the American Psychological Association. Her commitment to advancing academia is further evident through her service on various administrative committees, ranging from the Institutional Review Board to the Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees.

Achu has extensive teaching experience in the Colleges of Worcester Consortium, including institutions like Clark University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Committed to community service, she has volunteered with organizations like Ascentria Care Alliance and the Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center (RIAC).

Beyond her academic and community engagement, Dr. Alexander actively fosters student research collaborations and contributes her expertise as a reviewer for esteemed peer-reviewed journals, such as Emerging Adulthood and Current Psychology. Her multifaceted contributions reflect a dedication to advancing knowledge, fostering community well-being, and enhancing the mission of ARISE.

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Nabinda is a Management Accountant and currently serves as the Treasurer on ARISE executive board. Nabinda began her career as a Finance and Administrative Assistant and her career spans across different roles in the field of social work. Nabinda has nearly 10 years of experience in supporting rural communities in Nepal and holds 3 years of experience as a Management Accountant for non-profit organizations. She is a Full-time Accountant at the Crispus Attucks Children’s Center, Dorchester MA.

Nabinda moved to the USA in 2019. In her initial years in the USA, she worked as a Cashier and was later promoted to store Manager at Dunkin Donuts at Natick Mall. Before moving to the USA, she worked in several programs related to social and community development in Nepal. Nabinda holds a master’s in business studies with Accounting and Taxation specialization from Saptagandaki Multiple Campus, Bharatpur Nepal.  She has a deep dedication to work for societies and believes every human being including immigrants deserves a dignified life and should have access to all kinds of resources to strengthen themselves in attaining their aspirations.

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