CENTREVILLE, Virginia — The American Society of Nepalese Engineers (ASNEngr) has announced its new Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the 2026–2028 term, bringing together 37 engineering, technology, academic and industry professionals from across the United States.

Effective July 1, 2026, the newly constituted board will serve a two-year term focused on advancing engineering innovation, professional development, mentorship, networking and technical collaboration among Nepalese-origin engineers, scientists and technology professionals in the United States and around the world.

The organization’s new leadership is headed by Dr. Ananda Paudel, who will serve as President and Chair of the Board. The expanded leadership team represents a broad range of engineering and technical disciplines, including civil and structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, transportation, cybersecurity, software, electronics, water resources, geophysics, architecture, urban planning and scientific research.

New Executive Leadership
The 12-member Executive Committee includes professionals with experience in both the private and public sectors, as well as academia and research.

Dr. Ananda Paudel of DCMA Space Enterprise in Denver will serve as President and Chair of the Board. Ranjan Pokharel, Principal Database Administrator at Yahoo, has been appointed Vice President, while Pratibha Phuyal, Director of Digital Science at Molex, will serve as General Secretary.

Amit Neupane, a Geotechnical Project Engineer at SaLUT, will serve as Joint Secretary, and Utsab Pokharel, Principal Engineer at the New Jersey Department of Transportation, will serve as Treasurer. Roshan Bhattarai, a Full Stack Java Developer at Lumen Technologies, has been named Information Secretary.

The Executive Committee also includes Immediate Past President Mangal Maharjan, Senior Design Engineer at EDF Renouvelables, serving in an ex-officio capacity.

Members-at-large are Samir Rawal, Vice President at Ace GeoDrilling; Tikajit Rai, PhD, Adjunct Faculty Member; Suroj Lamichhane, Senior Principal Engineer at Northrop Grumman; Nitesh Pant, Lead Cybersecurity Engineer; and Rabin Dhakal, PhD, Senior Research Engineer.

Diverse Board Representing Multiple Fields
The 37-member board includes professionals working in engineering, technology, education, research, government and business across numerous U.S. states.

Board members include Abdul Ansari of Texas, a Product Manager; Bijaya Paudyal of North Carolina, a Senior Technical Leader; Bikash Adhikari of Maryland, a Geotechnical Project Engineer; and Bishal Khadka of Washington, D.C., a Structural Engineer.

Other members include Deependra Pokharel of Virginia, an Electronics Engineer; Jagadish Raut of New York, associated with the New York Department of Transportation; Jitendra Khatri of California, a Substation Design Engineer; and Jitendra Shah of Maryland, an Architect specializing in software.

The board also includes Kishor Shrestha, PhD, an Associate Professor in Washington; Manoj Baniya, a Senior Bridge Inspector in Georgia; Narayan Baral, a Project Manager in New York; and Nav Paneru, a Structural Engineer in North Carolina.

Nirajan Mani, a professor and department chair at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts, joins fellow academics and technical professionals including Rabin Bhattarai, PhD, a professor in Illinois, and Ripendra Awal, PhD, a professor in Texas.

Other directors are Rajendra Shrestha, PhD, a Consulting Geophysicist in Texas; Rajesh Bhatt, a Water Resources Engineer in Illinois; Rajesh Kaphle, a Transportation Engineer in Indiana; Raju Joshee, CEO and Co-Founder of idaxis.ai in Maryland; and Sajag Paudel, a Staff Scientist in Illinois.

The board is further represented by Shubha Adhikari, an Urban/Transportation Planner in Virginia; Siddha Raj Joshi, a Professional Engineer in New York; Sudeep Sapkota, an Executive Director in North Carolina; Sushil Kanel, PhD, a Senior Research Scientist in Ohio; and Thakur Dhakal, PE, an Engineer IV with Fairfax County in Virginia.

ASNEngr said the diversity of the new board will help strengthen collaboration across engineering disciplines and geographic regions while creating opportunities for members to share professional expertise and support the next generation of technical professionals.

Focus on Professional Development and Mentorship
Under the new leadership, ASNEngr plans to strengthen programs that support professional development, mentorship and knowledge exchange.

The organization aims to provide greater opportunities for engineering students and early-career professionals to connect with experienced engineers and academics. It also plans to promote knowledge transfer between the American and Nepalese technology and engineering sectors.

Among the organization’s key areas of work are educational initiatives, technical discussions, professional networking, mentorship and policy-oriented research addressing major engineering challenges.

ASNEngr also plans to continue developing policy papers and technical publications on issues including flood control and earthquake preparedness, areas of particular importance to Nepal and other communities vulnerable to natural disasters.

Annual Conference and Upcoming Programs
ASNEngr’s major upcoming event is its 19th Annual Conference, scheduled for November 21, 2026, in Houston, Texas. The annual conference will provide an opportunity for engineers, scientists, academics, students and industry professionals to exchange ideas, discuss emerging technologies and strengthen professional networks.

The organization will also host a webinar on August 23, 2026, titled “Empowering Our Youth: Join the ASNEngr & NYA College Readiness,” focusing on educational and college-readiness opportunities for young people.

Through these programs, ASNEngr seeks to expand its role as a professional platform connecting Nepalese-origin technical professionals and creating opportunities for collaboration between generations and across disciplines.

Growing Chapter Network
ASNEngr’s professional and community activities are also supported by its network of regional chapters. The organization currently maintains chapters in several major metropolitan areas, including the Greater Baltimore Chapter, Carolinas Chapter, Greater Chicago Chapter, Greater Houston Chapter, Greater New York Chapter and Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter.

The chapter network provides opportunities for members to participate in local professional activities, networking events, technical discussions and community service initiatives.

About ASNEngr
The American Society of Nepalese Engineers (ASNEngr) is a nonprofit organization established to provide a professional platform for engineers, scientists and technologists of Nepalese origin.

The organization promotes professional networking, technical knowledge sharing, mentorship and cooperation on engineering and technology challenges. It also seeks to strengthen connections among Nepalese technical professionals in the United States and foster knowledge exchange between the United States and Nepal.

With its new 2026–2028 Board of Directors, ASNEngr aims to further expand its professional network and strengthen its contribution to engineering education, innovation and community service.

For additional information and the complete leadership roster, visit (http://www.ASNEngr.org).

Media Contact:
Office of the Information Secretary
American Society of Nepalese Engineers (ASNEngr)
P.O. Box 343
Centreville, VA 20122
Email: [info@ASNEngr.org](mailto:info@ASNEngr.org)
Website: (http://www.ASNEngr.org)