Advisory Board

  • Pakkam Michael Harris SDB

    Rev. Harris Michael Pakkam completed his schooling at Don Bosco, earned a Bachelor's degree in English Literature at American College, Madurai, and joined the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1991. He obtained a Bachelor's in Theology and a Master's in Communication from the Salesian University in Rome and was ordained in 2002.

    He served as Director & Creative Head of the Don Bosco Institute of Communication Arts in Chennai (2005-2015) and founded the Don Bosco College of Arts & Science in 2012. He has been the delegate for Social Communications for Don Bosco institutions in Tamil Nadu since 2015, conducting numerous media-related seminars and workshops. He has also organized over 40 short film festivals.

    Rev. Pakkam served as Director of the Salesian Institute of Graphic Arts (2013-2017) and as Director of Photography Services of the Holy See at the Vatican (2017-2018). From 2018, he represented the Salesian Congregation to the Vatican's Secretariat of Communications. He is currently the Media and Communications Director for the Salesian community in Rome.

  • Indira Krishna Kumar

    Indira Kumar is an accomplished educator with 17 years of teaching experience and 18 years in administrative roles. She served as the Principal at Don Bosco School of Excellence, Egmore, Chennai, from May 2013 until her retirement. Indira has previously served as Principal at Gurukulam Public School and Vice-Principal at Harisree Vidyanidhi, Thrissur. She has been recognized for her contributions to education with several awards and honors and has undergone extensive training, including a School Leadership Training program at Shikshangan, Pune, and short-term programs on learning disorders.

    Indira holds a Master's degree in History from S.N.D.T. Women's University, Bombay, a B.Ed. from St. Xavier's Institute of Education, and a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Logic, and Comparative Religion from Madras Christian College. Throughout her career, she focused on curriculum implementation, staff recruitment, extracurricular involvement, and fostering open communication. Even in retirement, Indira continues to contribute to the academic field, utilizing her extensive experience and expertise to the very best.

  • Sandhiya Vignesh

    Sandhiya Thiruvengadam is an experienced HR professional, DEIB enthusiast, and Generative AI specialist based in Edison, New Jersey, with over 17 years in the field. Currently as the Senior Human Resources Business Partner at a leading IT services company in Princeton, NJ, .her career began at 17 as a freelance anchor and voice-over artist. Sandhiya holds a postgraduate degree in data science and business analytics from the University of Texas, Austin, and an Executive Program in Design Thinking from MIT Sloan.

    Her leadership has earned her several awards, including the MMA Outstanding Women Manager Award (2018) and CII National Young HR Awards (2016, 2017). As a Generative AI specialist, she enhances HR strategies with advanced AI techniques. Sandhiya is also an avid speaker on People Analytics and Design Thinking, contributing insights at institutions like IIM Trichy and IIT Madras. She continues to contribute to the academic field and HR consultancy, leveraging her extensive experience in HR technology and Generative AI to develop a personalized Gen AI platform for schools, driving organizational excellence and fostering inclusive work environments.

  • Shalini S. Rajan

    Shalini S. Rajan is a seasoned professional based in Princeton, New Jersey, with extensive experience in the healthcare industry and a strong background in legal studies. She holds degrees in Legal Studies from Madras University, Political Science from Osmania University, and Nursing from Aspen University and MCC - NJ. Shalini's diverse skill set includes expertise in writing Standard Operating Procedures, talent management, business development, and regulatory compliance.

    At EdYouMath, Shalini will add significant value by leveraging her legal expertise to handle legal and compliance matters. Her background in regulatory and labeling roles at organizations like Sun Pharmaceuticals and Bristol-Myers Squibb, along with her experience in consulting and management, makes her well-equipped to support fundraising efforts and ensure adherence to legal standards. Shalini's strategic insights and comprehensive experience will be instrumental in driving EdYouMath's mission forward.

  • Mike Boese

    Mike Boese has a deep passion for mathematics and is dedicated to extending his knowledge to underprivileged communities. He is committed to ensuring that top-quality education reaches those who cannot afford it. At EdYouMath, Mike will lead the Generative AI initiative, leveraging his extensive experience to develop personalized AI-driven educational platforms. His dedication to accessible education aligns with EdYouMath's mission to bridge educational gaps and foster inclusive learning environments.
    By profession, Mike is a data science and decision analytics leader with over 10 years of experience, currently serving as the Vice President of Data Science at a le ding IT services company in Seattle. He excels in directing teams, optimizing business operations, and deriving actionable insights from data. Mike has held key positions at T-Mobile, PACCAR, and Sun Pharmaceuticals, where he led successful projects and developed patented algorithms. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from Western Washington University and has received multiple awards for his excellence in data science and business analysis.