The Directors on our Board are drawn from all walks of life with a special interest in Nepal as a common bond.

Mary C. Carroll, Chair
Mary is Honorary Trade Representative of Nepal in the US and the first US citizen to receive the "Friend of Nepal" award from the Association of Nepalis in the Americas, the largest Nepali organization outside Kathmandu.  She has made 16 trips to Nepal in 21 years, many involved organizing projects relating to education.  She and her husband, David, are enthusiastic trekkers, and have taken responsibility for our Artist-in-Residence program.

Janice Bogen, Director, Office of International Exchange Services, Thomas Jefferson University; has been working to establish an exchange between Jefferson and the Patan Hospital in Nepal.  She facilitates experiences for Jefferson students, medical residents, faculty and administrators who wish to do rotations, teach or travel in Nepal and around the world.  Janice earned a degree in Linguistics from Northwestern University, and Master's degrees in Linguistics and Education at the University of Michigan.  Very active in NAFSA, Associatiion for International Educators, she was recently awarded the Region VIII Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Education.

Nancy Hirsig is a member of the Philadelphia & Vicinity YMCA International Committee and the Board of Philadelphia's Arden Theatre Company.  Long interested in travel and international exchanges, she lived in England for over six years and had the opportunity to travel in and beyond Europe.  She has visited Nepal several times and has hosted Nepalis and other foreign visitors in her home.

Margarett F. McKeel is a long-time resident of Philadelphia and has served on many boards, including the YMCA of Philadelphia and Vicinity where she is the current Chair of the International Committee; the Philadelphia Historical Society; former Chair of Philadelphia Hospitality, Inc;  Philadelphia's historic Fort Mifflin; and many others.
Sam, her husband, a former President of the Philadelphia Inquirer and of the Chicago Sun Times, is now retired.  The McKeels have hosted many Nepali guests and friends and have been very supportive of Nepal.

Binod Moktan is an accomplished artist, specializing in Thanka art.  He has exhibited in the US and in Nepal.  He is also active in Nepal's political scene and is a highly respected member of the Nepali Congress Party, having run for public office from his district.  He is co-owner of the Persian Grill, a highly successful award-winning restaurant in Lafayette Hill, PA.

Hridai Moktan, born in Darjeeling, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering. A project and business manager, he has organized the business operations of his wife’s dental practice among other activities and is presently considering various entrepreneurial endeavors. He wishes to commit to a Nepal Project that will benefit the people and encourage the steady progress of the country.

Sunil K. Nepal, Ph.D is a principal Biostatistician with Bristol Myers. He has a degree and interest in forestry and is active in the New Jersey Nepali Committee.

David W. Reynolds, the Manager of Natural Resources Management Division of the Northeast Region of the National Park Service, has been to Nepal to establish a "Sister Park" agreement with Sagarmatha National Park. He has professional international experience throughout the world, most recently in Botswana and Namibia and is a former Peace Corps volunteer.

Jambala Ruit is the owner of a shop in Manyunk. Among other items he sells handicrafts from Tibet. He is interested in working towards improvement of education in Nepal and Tibet.

Gopal Shrestha emmigrated to the US from Nepal through the visa lottery and is presently working for Verizon. In Nepal Gopal was a teacher at the Laboratory School in Kathmandu where he directed a summer camp for about 200 indigent children. That project was a partnership effort with the YMCA of Philadelphia & Vicinity. He and his wife, Meena, have two children: Swapnil is a high school student, and Swapnima attends Bryn Mawr College.

Barbara B. Supplee has retired as a teacher, administrator and development assistant in US private schools. Her extensive volunteer activities include a homeless shelter, educational institutions, music and dance organizations, environmental alliances, historic preservation organizations, Hospice and Planned Parenthood. She has traveled extensively throughout the world, but has a special place in her life for Nepal.

Suman R. Timsina works in corporate operations at MBNA Bank. He is President of the Tristate Nepali Committee, a local Nepalese organization, and is past Secretary of the Association of Nepalis in the Americas, an international organization for Nepalis and their friends. He serves on boards of the United Way and Chamber of Commerce in North Philadelphia.


The Nepal Foundation Advisors:

Dennis L. Cohen, Esq., is a Partner with the law firm of Cozen O’Connor.

Vivian W. Piasecki is a prominent leader in the Philadelphia region, interested in international issues, well traveled, and has been to Nepal.

Emilio and Carole Gravagno, husband and wife; Emilio recently retired from the Philadelphia Orchestra where he has long played bass viol. He is an accomplished player of many other instruments as well and has a wide range of interests. Carole, long a leader in Philadelphia‘s philanthropic community, has equally wide-ranging interests in the arts and in social and international issues.

Lawrence S. Smith, a retired Comcast executive, has an interest in international affairs and has traveled widely, including a trip to Nepal. A community supporter, he is currently the Chairman of the YMCA of Philadelphia & Vicinity. His son is a Peace Corps volunteer in Latin America.