The Penn State Alumni Association will recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of 13 distinguished Penn State alumni in 2023 by honoring them with the prestigious Alumni Fellow Award. Among the honorees this year is Ajay Nair, a renowned figure in the field of student affairs, nationally recognized for his expertise in addressing student-related issues.
A distinguished scholar focusing on social justice, race, and ethnicity matters, Nair is the president of Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania, overseeing a community of almost 4,000 students. He made history as the first person of colour to hold this position at Arcadia and as one of the early college presidents of Indian-American descent in the United States.
Before his current role at Arcadia University, Nair held executive leadership positions at the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and the University of Virginia. He also served as a faculty member at each of these institutions, as well as at the World Language Institute in Kwangju, South Korea.
During his career, he has been recognized with several prestigious awards including the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) 2018 Dr. Doris Michiko Ching Shattering the Glass Ceiling Award and the 2019 Outstanding Allyship Award. His dedication to fostering connections within the Asian/Pacific Islander/Desi American communities led to NASPA naming the Allyship Award after him in 2019.
In 2020, the Philadelphia Business Journal recognized Nair as a minority business leader. In 2023, he was also honoured by being included in City and State Pennsylvania's Higher Education Power 100 list. This recognition stemmed from his pivotal role in leading the university's initiatives to address and combat anti-Black racism.
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