Dr Tara Niraula, a Prominent Person of Nepali origin with a record of numerous achievements
and public service has recently been chosen to the leadership position of Director/ Faculty of the
Institute for Urban Education, Eugene Lang College of the New School University, New York
City.
(Dr. Tara N. Niraula)
He is also the recipient of number of prestigious awards and recognitions for his outstanding leadership in
policy and advocacy work around immigrants and other populations in New York State and beyond. Dr.
Niraula has number of distinguished awards and recognitions to his credit. In 2006, Dr. Niraula was one
of the five distinguished South Asian leaders who were honored by the Comptroller of City of New York
for his outstanding leadership and contributions to strengthen the immigrant communities in New York.
In 2007, he was presented with a New York City Council Citation form Council member John Liu.
Dr. Niraula is an educator by profession with over 25 years of experience in education research, policy
development, teaching and advocacy work. He has served in numerous positions such as Public School
Teacher, Administrator of the Save the Children Fund, Education Program Officer of the Swiss
Development Cooperation, Director of Newcomer Education Policy, and Advocacy with the New York
Immigration Coalition, adjunct graduate faculty and Senior Research Scholar and Research Director at
Teachers College, Columbia University and education researcher and consultant with Fordham
University. As a graduate student, Dr. Niraula was reported to be the first foreign student to lead as the
president of a student body of an Ivy League higher education institution. As a leader of the all students
who came from over 100 different countries, he led numerous on-campus reform initiatives. He
represented students on College’s Board of Trustees and Columbia University’s Senate. The college
community recognized him as an outstanding leader. Dr. Niraula was also a member of Nepal’s
delegation to UNICEF’s annual Executive Board meeting in 1993 and 1994.
He is also the Senior Vice President of the Nepalese Americas Council (NAC), an umbrella organization
for over 28 Nepali American groups in North America, immediate past president of the America-Nepal
Friendship Society, and advisor to number of local Nepali American organizations. He also quite
frequently appears on radios and televisions on local, national and international issues concerning local
immigrant communities and his native country-Nepal. He serves as resource person for various local and
international groups on Nepal related issues. He continues to work on the development and preservation
of Nepali culture and develop a strong, vibrant and unified Nepali American community in the United
States.
In addition to his involvement in local Nepali American communities, Dr. Niraula has also been involved
in raising funds to support education of some of the neediest children in Nepal. With his and friends
efforts, schools and school libraries have been established in some select area schools in Nepal.
While focusing on building stronger Nepali American communities in the United States, Dr. Niraula also
remains equally involved in Nepal’s efforts to bring lasting peace, democracy, political stability and
prosperity in his native country.
For over 15 years, Dr. Niraula has been also a staunch fighter for immigrant rights in New York and
beyond. As the Director of the Newcomer Education Policy and Advocacy with the New York
Immigration Coalition, he mobilized hundreds of statewide immigrant community groups to strengthen
the voices of immigrants and refugees in New York State and beyond. Dr. Niraula also led community
efforts and worked with then President and Schools Chancellor and other Board members of the New
York City Department of Education to develop the first ever Newcomer Education Reform Policy, Parent
Involvement and Translation and Interpretation policy which were passed by the Board of Education. Dr.
Niraula also served on New York City Schools Chancellors Advocacy Taskforce.
Starting his formal schooling at the age of 13 at a small village school in a remote hilly district of
Terahthum, Nepal, Dr. Niraula excelled as an outstanding achiever throughout his schooling years. Dr.
Niraula is a graduate of Tribunal University of Nepal and holds double masters and a doctorate from
Columbia University’s prestigious Teachers College.
A soft spoken, polite personality, Dr. Niraula commands tremendous respect in Nepali as well as South
communities in the United States. Currently, Dr. Niraula resides with his wife Savitri Niraula and son
Sujan Niraula on the Upper Westside of Manhattan, New York.