Obama names two more Indian Americans to key jobs

Washington -  President Barack Obama, who with over two dozen appointments has more Indian Americans serving in White House jobs than in any previous administration, has named two more to key posts.

While Indore educated Paula Gangopadhyay was named member, National Museum and Library Services Board, Bangalore educated Sonny Ramaswamy was named Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

"These dedicated individuals bring a wealth of experience and talent to their new roles and I am proud to have them serve in this Administration. I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come," he said in making seven new appointments.

Currently the Chief Learning Officer at The Henry Ford, where she is responsible for leadership, strategy, and education, Gangopadhyay has held a variety of positions in education and arts policy.

These include Executive Director of the Plymouth Community Arts Council from 2006 to 2008; Curator at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids from 2002 to 2006; and Executive Director of the Great Lakes Centre for Education, Research and Practice from 2000 to 2001.

Gangopadhyay has served as a member of many state and national boards, including the Michigan Humanities Council. She received her BA and MA from Indore University, and her post-graduate certification in archival, museum and editing studies from Duquesne University.

Ramaswamy is Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University and Director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station.

Previously, Ramaswamy was Associate Dean of the Purdue University College of Agriculture and directed the University's agricultural research programmes from 2006 to 2009.

Prior to joining the Purdue faculty, Ramaswamy was head of the Department of Entomology at Kansas State University from 1997 to 2006, where he held the title of Distinguished Professor.

Ramaswamy received a BS and MS in Entomology from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore, India, and a PhD in Entomology from Rutgers University.

Meanwhile, Obama has found a replacement for America's first Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Indian American Aneesh Chopra who quit last month apparently to try his hand at politics.

Chopra's successor Todd Park has served as CTO of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) since August 2009, where he has been an agent for change, according to the White House.