Mrs. Shanti Shrestha
President
Mrs. Shanti Shrestha is currently a member of the Data Layout Content Team at Moore Digital Print and Media Center in Frederick, Maryland. For more than 30 years, she has been an active, dedicated, and highly respected member of the Nepali community in the Washington, D.C. area.
Over the past decade, Mrs. Shrestha has volunteered extensively with Nepa Pasa Pucha Amerikaye (NPPA), contributing her time and talent to organizing cultural programs, performing group dances, and managing event registrations. She has served as the Managing Editor of NPPA’s annual DABU Magazine, playing a key leadership role in its publication. For the past 16 years, she has also served as the Ihi Coordinator, helping preserve and promote one of NPPA’s most significant cultural traditions—the IHI Ceremony. In recognition of her long-standing dedication and exceptional service, NPPA honored her for her outstanding contributions.
Beyond NPPA, Mrs. Shrestha has been actively involved with several other Nepali organizations, including ANA, ANS, and NECC. She served as a Member-at-Large at ANS for four years and currently contributes as part of its Operations Team, helping oversee daily Mandir activities. She also serves as a Trustee Member of NECC.
Mrs. Shrestha earned her Associate in Arts degree from Prince George’s Community College and completed a Business Management Certificate from the University of Maryland, College Park. She currently resides in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with her husband, Mr. Pancha Shrestha, and her mother-in-law.
In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, sewing, and spending cherished moments with her 18-month-old granddaughter, Maya.
Mr. Suman Tuladhar
Vice-President
Mr. Suman Bir Tuladhar is a Senior Software Automation Engineer with more than 10 years of experience in the field of Information Technology with programming concentration. He has a Masters in computer science from University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Mr. Tuladhar is currently working at 3M as Senior Software Automation Engineer and before 3M, he has worked for GE, Intermountain Healthcare, Ebas. He is also an up and coming entrepreneur, owns a gas station and a Nepali restaurant. He is one of the founding trustee members of Hindu Buddha temple in the Baltimore area. Mr. Tuladhar lives in Pasadena, Maryland with wife Mrs. Pushpa and son Pramsu.
Mr. Prabin Tamrakar
2nd Vice-President
Mr. Prabin Tamrakar currently serves as the General Secretary of ANPBDS (American Nepal Traditional Buddhist Association), and since 2013 Prabin has been an active contributor to the Daboo, NPPA’s Souvenir Magazine. He presently serves as liaison for the organization’s yearly publication.
Prabin is also an accomplished singer and has performed on 3 musical albums, two of them as a featured artist and one solo album.
He has a great love of literature, contributing to the publication and distribution of several books of Newah literature. Organized by Nepalbhasa Times Prabin is also a key organizer of the Nepalbhasa Short Film Competition. Prabin has written articles in both Newah and English. He is also the co-founder and a producer of Nepalbhasa Times online program “Amerikaye Newah.” A popular talk and interview program which has now filmed more than 125 episodes. He is the host and producer of “Chinapa Jhinnyagu Minuteya Chajhaa.” This informative and motivational 15 minutes program recently aired it’s 50th episode. These are just some of his contributions to the community and its culture. Prabin’s efforts have served to link the diaspora communities to homeland and tradition not only in the Washington DC area but around the world.
Mrs. Niti Mathema
General Secretary
Mrs. Niti Mathema has over 25 years of experience in the Business and Information Technology sectors. She started her career in the US as a Research Assistant, Robotic department in New Mexico Mining and Technology during her graduate program. For the past 20 years, she has been providing services to the US Department of Agriculture in various leadership capacities. She is currently working as an IT Project Manager. She received her Master’s degree in Computer Information System from the Strayer University, Washington DC. She lives in Springfield, Virginia with her husband Mr. Shambhu M. Sainju, son Nhisu, and daughter Niva.
Mr. Samip Man Shrestha
Secretary
Mr. Samip M. Shrestha is an Army Veteran and Contract Specialist for Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He has more than 10 years of service with the Army and 5 years of experience in the Financial Services industry and Federal Government agency. He is currently serving as a Contract Specialist for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Headquarters. He has worked as a Risk Management specialist at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Fannie Mae and Capital One Bank. He is also a combat veteran with a combat deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in 2009. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs from The Pennsylvania State University (PSU). He lives in Aldie, Virginia with his wife Mrs. Richal Shrestha, son Aaryav and his parents Mr. Anil Shrestha and Mrs. Sarmila Shrestha. He has been involved in various volunteering activities.
Mr. Allan Maharjan
Treasurer
Mr. Allan Maharjan is an up and coming entrepreneur, currently managing a string of family owned jewelry stores. The stores span from multiple locations in Nepal, India and the United States of America. He has more than 10 years of experience in the jewelry industry, being involved in all aspects of it including manufacturing, grading, sales and finance. He has also worked on projects with Ridgewood Savings Bank and National Grid. He received his Masters in Business Administration in Executive Management from St. John’s University in New York and a double degree of Bachelors of Business Administration with concentration in Entrepreneurship and a Bachelors of Science with concentration in Business, Management and Finance from CUNY- Brooklyn College. He currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Mrs. Magan Devi Shrestha
Executive Member
Magan Shrestha grew up in the heart of Kathmandu, where she had the privilege of learning and experiencing Nepal’s rich culture and traditions—especially its music. Soon after arriving in the United States in 1981, she was invited to participate in numerous cultural programs both locally and out of town, a journey that continues to this day. Since stepping foot in this country, she has been actively involved with several Nepali organizations, including ANA, ANS, NPPA, and NECC.
She has served as Treasurer of both NPPA and NECC, and she currently serves as a member of the NECC Board of Trustees.
Magan earned her degree in Information Systems and Accounting from the University of Maryland in the early 1990s. Today, she manages her family business, which was established in 1993. Prior to joining the business full-time in 2005, she held various positions in healthcare facilities, as well as in IT and finance departments. She also has a strong passion for real estate and has maintained an active real estate agent license since 2002.
In her free time, she enjoys listening to financial and spiritual podcasts, swimming, traveling, practicing yoga, and meditating.
Dr. Raju Tamot
Executive Member
Dr. Raju Tamot earned his doctorate from Michigan State University in Socio-Cultural Anthropology and has over 20 years of teaching, social science research, and administrative experience. Earlier, he was a civil servant in Nepal and has also taught at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, and Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan. As an anthropologist, Raju believes that culture is the invisible bond that ties people together and helps them to define their identities and build communities. It also helps people understand their heritage, traditional values, spiritual evolution, fears, and aspirations. He firmly believes that celebrating, preserving, and passing on Newah culture to future generations is our responsibility, for it gives the very meaning of life to Newahs. Raju is enthusiastically looking forward to be of service to assist the Executive Committee in promoting, preserving and strengthening the Newah cultural heritage in the U.S. and abroad. Raju lives in Rockville, Maryland with his loving wife, Mrs. Banita where they are devoted parents to their two wonderful boys, Devanshu and Snehal.
Mr. Jayaswor Shrestha
Executive Member
Mr. Jayaswor Shrestha is a Senior Functional Analyst (Workday Subject Matter Expert) at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. He arrived in the United States in 2007 and completed his BSBM studies from California University of Management and Science (CalUMS), Virginia. As a social service enthusiast he was associated with Reiyukai Nepal, Jacees, Lions Club, and many other organizations. He resides in Centreville, Virginia with his wife Mrs. Rekha Shrestha, daughter Roz Shrestha, and son Rnav Shrestha.
Mrs. Ramita Maharjan
Executive Member
Mrs. Ramita Maharjan has been a prominent member of NPPA since 2012. She finished her studies in economics from the Public Youth Campus in Nepal in 2002. She is a champion of traditional Newari/Nepali family values and believes that cultural preservation begins at home. She resides in Kensington, Maryland with her husband Mr. Binesh Maharjan, daughter Shilu Maharjan, and in-laws Mr. Swoyambhu and Mrs. Bijaya Maharjan who have been great supporters of NPPA since its inception. Knowing the importance of family’s presence and parent’s positive contribution in early childhood development, she has been a full time mother since 2015. Since early 2020, she has been working as Nutrients Specialist Assistant for the Montgomery County Department of Sports and Recreation.
Mrs. Sabina Maharjan Suwal
Executive Member
Mrs. Sabina Marharjan Suwal is currently working as a Customer Delight at Montgomery County. She studied Child Growth and Development at Montgomery College in 2013, and Bachelor of Business Studies from the Public Youth campus in Nepal (2000). She worked at the Image Channel Broadcast as a Production Assistant for four years and also worked at the Kantipur TV Broadcast as a Senior Assistant Video Editor for eight years. Other than that, she worked as a social service worker at Nepal Jaycees for four years. She loves to engage and celebrate Newari culture and festivals. She has lived in the United States since 2011, and currently resides in Derwood, Maryland, along with her husband Mr. Sunil Suwal, and 2 kids, Suave Suwal and Subiv Suwal.
Mrs. Kanchan Khwaunju
Executive Member
Mrs. Kanchan Khwaunju works in the sector of Budgeting and Financial Analysis for a nonprofit global organization in the District of Columbia Headquarter, that mobilizes research, resources, and relationships in more than 60 countries. She has 20 years of working experience, which includes an initial five years in the private sector and 15 years managing grants and finance for a wider range of different International Non-Governmental Organizations such as UKAID, USAID, SDF (SAARC Development Fund), Italian Agency, etc. in the capacity of Finance Manager and Finance/Admin/HR Administrator while in Nepal.
Mrs. Khwaunju studied Master in Public Administration with a major in Public Finance from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, and a Master in Business Administration with a major in International Finance from Presidential Business School in Nepal, affiliated with Westcliff University in California, USA. She lived in the United States since 2019 and currently resides in Beltsville, Maryland with her husband Mr. Rahendra Raj Suwal, and sons Rabindra and Kabindra.
Sandhya Maharjan
Manager – Youth and Culture
Miss Sandhya Maharjan is a graduate student, currently doing her MBA-Accounting in University of the Potomac (DC). Her American dream started in 2016 when she joined Washington University of Science and Technology (Virginia) for her undergraduate degree. Born and brought up in deeply rooted Newari family in Bungamati, Lalitpur, Nepal, she has been playing Dhime (Newari music instrument) and performing Dhime dance since her early age. Her expertise of working as Administration Assistant (on-campus) and Retail Manager (DC) made herself competent to outshine along with cultural norms and values. She currently resides in Falls Church, Virginia.
Mrs. Pranita Shrestha Shakya
Executive Member
Pranita Shrestha Shakya came to the United States in 2005 with her husband after earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Tribhuvan University. She later completed an undergraduate degree in Finance at Strayer University in Washington, DC, in 2008.
For more than ten years, she and her husband have successfully managed their business, Door to Door Battery Service LLC, demonstrating their commitment, hard work, and entrepreneurial spirit. In addition to their business endeavors, she has also worked at TD Bank and AmerisourceBergen, gaining valuable professional experience in the financial and corporate sectors.
She currently resides in Clarksburg, Maryland, with her husband, Nabin Shakya, and their two children, Pranav Shakya and Navya Shakya, enjoying a fulfilling balance of family life and business pursuits.
Dr. Sudeep Musyaju
Executive Member
Dr. Sudeep Musyaju is an accomplished Research Scientist currently working at Odyssey Consult, where he supports neurotherapeutics discovery at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Previously, he worked as a Corporate Health Promotion Specialist at Interactive Health, enhancing wellness initiatives in various institutions. Dr. Musyaju earned his MBBS from Kathmandu University in 2010 and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from The George Washington University, DC, in 2016. He is a strong advocate for preserving the rich and unique tapestry of Newari culture, believing that it can be sustained by continuing cherished customs and practices. This includes teaching the Newa language, cooking traditional foods, and observing religious and community ceremonies. Dr. Musyaju resides in Olney, Maryland, with his wife, Mrs. Diki Shrestha, and their children, Salvia and Sarvesh Singh.