Nepali Academics in America
The latest issue of Newsflash features NACA activities from June 15 - September 30, 2025 including the NACA-CAIPHEN Public Health Fellowship Program launch and NACA Chhahari initiation.
NACA Newsflash Vol. 5 Issue 4
As an organization with membership from diverse academic fields, NACA encourages networking and collaboration among members within and outside with disciplines. Please consider forming a thematic Special Interest Group (SIG) to promote within and among discipline collaborations.
Objective: Focus on a defined and/or specific thematic topic of interest for members, ensuring alignment with broader vision and mission of NACA. The scope of each SIG needs to be clearly defined. SIGs may be formed by any NACA member with a formal application that will be reviewed by the SIG committee.
Membership: All members of a SIG are required to be a current NACA member. SIG membership is optional/additional to NACA membership. Each member can serve on a maximum of 2 SIGs and can choose SIG membership when renewing/joining. All SIG memberships are valid for the same period of time as the NACA membership, with options to change once a year.
Leadership: There must be 8-10 active NACA members to form a SIG. The initial Chair of the SIG is appointed by the SIG committee with consultation with the Executive Committee (EC). The SIG members will select a co-chair. The Chair will serve a maximum of 3 years and serve as a mentor to the co-chair, facilitating the co-chair's development and increasing their effectiveness in leading the SIG. Each SIG should have a fair and transparent governance structure, decided by the members that aligns with the NACA Constitution and Bylaws.
SIG Name: The official name of any SIG is “NACA SIG - XXX” (XXX is the thematic group name - e.g. NACA SIG - Population and Public Health Sciences)
Events and Activities: Each SIG will function independently with its unique characteristics and compositions but with transparent communication with other SIGs and EC.
Each SIG should:
Meet quarterly (minimum but can meet additionally as needed).
Conduct a minimum of one webinar presentation or panel discussion per year.
Include a mentoring component within their activities (eg. chair/co-chair mentoring, faculty-student mentoring, senior/junior researcher mentoring etc.). This mentorship can be part of a formal leadership development program or a less structured relationship.
Work with NACA’s Communications Committee to create and maintain SIG social media and share information for NACA NewFlash.
Participate in organizing NACA conferences.
Communication within and between NACA: Any new event or program (including fund-raising) should be reported to the SIG committee. The SIG committee will present the details of the event to the EC as an information item. If the committee deems the event to be significant, the SIG leader will be asked to join the EC meeting for a presentation.
Evaluation and Reporting: Each SIG will submit a quarterly report to the SIG committee and an annual report on its activities to the EC that will be shared with all NACA members.
Statement by Nepali Academics in America (NACA) In Solidarity with Nepal’s Youth, Democracy, and Intellectual Integrity
Nepali Academics in America (NACA) stands in firm solidarity with the young people of Nepal who began their movement by peacefully exercising their democratic freedoms. Their courage reflects the conscience and hope of the nation.
We unequivocally condemn the Government of Nepal’s violent crackdown on peaceful protesters, which claimed young lives. Such actions are indefensible and erode the foundations of democracy.
We denounce the violence and anarchy caused by infiltrators and opportunistic groups seeking to hijack and destabilize this youth-led movement. Violence from any side, whether by the state or by anarchists, betrays the aspirations of the people and endangers Nepal’s fragile democracy.
Democracy thrives on peaceful protest, while indiscriminate violence undermines it. Nepal’s future lies not in silencing its youth but in unleashing their creativity, integrity, and leadership. Equally, intellectual freedom and academic integrity are inseparable from democratic rights. The distortion of higher education through political patronage and the silencing of critical voices stifle young people’s potential and weaken the nation’s future. To betray civic and intellectual freedom is to betray the very promise of Nepal’s youth.
We call on the Government of Nepal and current political actors to end repression, acknowledge and take responsibility for the killing of young people, hold accountable those who authorized and carried out the excessive use of force, uphold free expression, and recognize youth as legitimate partners in shaping the country’s democratic future. We urge all actors to reject violence, safeguard civic freedoms, and restore integrity in both governance and education.
We call on all Nepalis, at home and abroad, to stand in solidarity with the hopes and aspirations of the young people. We urge every sector of society to reject violence and misinformation, condemn those who thrive on chaos, and ensure that the peaceful and democratic character of youth protests is not undermined.
We further urge the international community, human rights organizations, and global allies to stand with the people of Nepal to demand accountability, safeguard human rights, and support nonviolent democratic expressions.
As members of the global Nepali academic community, NACA stands with Nepali youth in hope, solidarity, and commitment to justice, democracy, and intellectual integrity.
Issued on behalf of Nepali Academics in America (NACA)
This issue features important organizational updates including the new NACA Executive Council, message from the new President Arati Maleku, highlights from the 2025 NACA Conference held April 11-13 at the Appalachian State University in Boone North Carolina, the Daayitwa Nepal Public Policy Fellowship Program, news and updates including publications, honors, and achievements. Click the link below to open a PDF version.
NACA Newsflash Vol. 5 Issue 3
This issue features important updates on the 2025 NACA Conference and our new partnership with Nepal’s Policy Research Institute (PRI), alongside our continued collaboration with Daayitwa Governance Lab. We also summarize NACA’s latest policy recommendations for economic reform and invite members to engage in mentorship and research collaborations. Click the link below to open a PDF version.
NACA Newflash Vol. 5 Issue 2
NACA Newsflash Vol 5 Issue 1
Welcome to the final issue of NACA Newsflash for 2024! As we bring the year to a close, we’re thrilled to share a host of exciting news and updates with our members and supporters.
Check out the latest Newsflash issue in PDF by clicking the thumbnail or button below.
Open The Newsflash Vol 4 Issue 5
The latest edition of the NACA Newsflash Vol. 4 Issue 4 is here. Check it out for the latest updates on the 2025 NACA Conference in Boone North Carolina, along with many other exciting news and updates.
Open the Newsflash Vol 4 Issue 4
Check out the latest issue of NACA Newsflash Vol. 4 Issue 3, which announces the 2025 NACA Biennial Conference and provides the recent updates on our collaborative efforts with Tribhuvan University as well as Daayitwa Abhiyan Nepal. This issue also covers research highlights covering an important topic of poverty reduction in Nepal, news updates of our members, our member spotlight featuring valuable members, a list of new members who joined NACA in the last three months, and a list of publications by our members. Enjoy!
Open the Newsflash Vol 4 Issue 3
We are delighted to present to you a new edition of the NACA Newsflash (Vol. 4, Issue 2). As you can see in the items covered in this issue, we have many exciting collaborative programs and events to share with our members and supporters.
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