Organization that supports Indian-American candidates for office appoints new head

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The Indian American Impact Project and Impact Fund (collectively “IMPACT”) announced the appointment of former Maryland State Delegate and former 2018 Congressional candidate Aruna Miller, as Executive Director. Miller replaces Gautam Raghavan, a former Obama administration official, who is now chief of staff to Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington.

“After conducting a national search, the Boards of IMPACT have selected Aruna Miller to serve as our Executive Director,” Deepak Raj, co-founder of Impact and chair of the Impact Fund, is quoted saying in a Feb. 25 press release.

“Aruna shares our passion for building political power in the Indian American community. With her leadership, (we) will continue building IMPACT into an organization that will be extraordinarily helpful to future generations,” Raj added. The organization which began to actively support candidates up and down the ballot in January 2018, “was positioned to harness the energy, excitement, and success of a historic 2018 election cycle in which an unprecedented number of Indian Americans ran for office across the country,” Raj said, adding that Impact was looking forward “to recruiting and training candidates, broadening our reach and support, and shaping the 2020 political landscape,”

An engineer by training, Miller served in the Maryland State House from 2010 to 2018, where her work in pushing for investments in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education, and streamlining small business regulations, was notable. In her 2018 bid for Congress, Miller came in second out of eight candidates and earned endorsements from the Impact Fund, EMILY’s List, 314 Action, National Education Association, and the Sierra Club as well as all four Indian American members of the House of Representatives.

“I am honored and excited to work with IMPACT,” Miller is quoted saying. “I am particularly gratified to be part of an organization dedicated to engaging Indian Americans, one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. I hope to further IMPACT’s mission to develop and support talented individuals have the desire to become influential leaders in our democracy.”
Former Kansas lawmaker Raj Goyle, a co-founder of Impact, said, “As a former candidate and elected official who has campaigned, won votes, and served in office, Aruna is the ideal person to lead IMPACT. She has the perfect combination of skills and personal experience to take this organization to the next level.”

“Anyone who has met, worked with, or voted for Aruna knows her future is bright. We are excited to have her at the helm of IMPACT,” added Goyle, CEO of Bodhala, and co-founder of Impact.