Leadership
Board Members
Meet the dedicated individuals who lead our organization and guide our mission to serve the community.
Shruti Desai
Shruti grew up in Pune and Mumbai, with her roots in Karnataka, India. Since 2014, she have been living in Connecticut, and in 2018, Woodbridge became home for her, her husband, and two children.
Living away from where she was born taught her just how important it is to find connection and build a sense of community, especially when family is far away. She truly believe that family extends beyond blood relations, and that meaningful relationships can be built through shared experiences, support, and simple everyday moments.
She enjoys connecting with people over the simple, ordinary parts of life, because those are often the moments that bring us closest together. In her free time, she loves painting and creating art. As a family, you’ll often find them enjoying walks on the trails, listening to music, or curled up with a good book. She looks forward to seeing you soon at our SACG gatherings!
Shobha Jagadeesh
A bit of the Caribbean, Bangalore, and Connecticut imbibed in her spirits, she and her husband, two children, doggies and a cat (yes, houseful!) have made Woodbridge their home.
She is excited to help build SACG, and believes that it not only takes a village to raise a child, but also a supportive, cross generational community to help us flourish and thrive throughout life’s journey.
Bringing along island sunshine, she enjoys connecting with folks from all walks of life, engaging in lighthearted fun and deep conversations. And, will never forget your favorite ice-cream!
Tahera Parvez
Tahera Parvez was born and raised in upstate New York and currently lives in Woodbridge, Connecticut, with her husband and four children. A strong believer in community building and volunteerism, she is actively involved in civic engagement and serves in various volunteer capacities at both the town and state levels.
As a first-generation American, Tahera values the opportunity to stay connected to her South Asian heritage while raising her family in the United States. She is passionate about the mission of the South Asian Community Group of Greater New Haven and appreciates the organization's role in fostering cultural connection, community engagement, and belonging for both current and future generations.
Mohini Ranganathan
With a childhood spent growing up all over India, she identifies as a true “Khichdi”! A psychiatrist, physician-scientist, and entrepreneur at Yale University, Mohini calls CT home- the place she has lived longest, and where she has put down roots since 2005. She lives in Woodbridge with her husband, their children, and dogs, Bella and Tallie!
Mohini is always 👍🏽 for quick chais, book or plant swaps, brainstorming chats, and walks! She cares deeply about creating opportunities for people to connect and cultivate a sense of belonging. “We are a multicultural and multidimensional people - let’s lean into this and celebrate us!” is her mantra. You can easily connect with Mohini at any SACG event :) See you there!
Sumithra Sudhir
Sumithra Sudhir grew up in Chennai, India and has lived in Woodbridge for over two decades with her husband, two daughters and their beloved Aussie Labradoodle, Nyla.
Sumithra has volunteered in the PTO of her daughters' schools in various roles, working with other like-minded volunteers from the community in organizing school events and fundraisers. Her involvement in these efforts has reinforced her belief that community is built through participation, generosity, and people showing up for one another. In her spare time, Sumithra finds joy in music, gardening, and spending time outdoors.
Vinay Thakur
Vinay Thakur is an Intellectual Property Attorney and Senior IP Manager at the University of Connecticut, where he leads strategic IP management, patent prosecution, and technology transfer efforts supporting university innovations.
In addition to his professional work, Vinay is committed to mentoring the next generation of innovators. He volunteers at science fairs and moot court competitions and conducts mentoring sessions with the Foundation for Educational Advancement (FEA) to empower disadvantaged youth in India by helping them explore professional pathways and achieve their potential.
SACG's mission of building bridges across generations and cultures while preserving South Asian heritage resonates deeply with Vinay's own journey as an immigrant professional navigating two worlds. Serving on the SACG board is his way of giving back to a community that reflects his roots, while helping foster the sense of belonging and mutual support that makes the greater New Haven area feel like home.