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SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Derek Tresize Derek is a competitive vegan bodybuilder residing in Richmond, VA. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, is a personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise, has a certificate in plant-based nutrition through Comell University, and is co-author of the website "Vegan Muscle & Fitness." Derek has followed a plant-based diet since 2007 and promotes it to his clients as the best means to fitness and long term health. Find Derek on Facebook, or follow @veganmuscle on Twitter.
Dhiraj Parekh Dhiraj is a scientist with a keen interest in aatma, or the soul. He holds many patents in the fields of physics, chemistry, and biology. Additionally, Dhiraj Parekh is an author, poet and a musician. He has made around 10 movies and a TV serial for Zee TV. He has written about 10 books on self enlightenment and studies many religions. He resides in Maryland. Website: www.aatmagan.com
Falguni Zaveri Falguni is a Jain scholar from Mumbai, India. She regularly gives public lectures on Jainism, stress management, personality development, meditation, and more to audiences in India and abroad. Dr. Zaveri also gives various discourses to Jain centers in the US and has been invited to Paryushan and Das Lakshan series since 2004. Dr. Zaveri holds a number of degrees and certificates, including a Ph.D in Jain Pooja Sahitya from the University of Mumbai.
Gautam Raghavan Gautam serves as President Obama's liaison to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. From 2009 to 2011, he served as Deputy White House Liaison at the U.S. Department of Defense and as Outreach Lead for the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Working Group from February to December 2010. Mr. Raghavan was born in India and raised in Seattle, and is a graduate of Stanford University.
Gautam Srikishan Gautam, a recent graduate of The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is a communications associate at Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC). He develops resources as a graphic designer, shares the latest news on the interfaith movement, and produces the IFYC podcast, Common Knowledge. When he's not working, you can find him playing table tennis or his newly acquired banjo. With parents of Jain and Hindu heritage, pluralism is a core part of Gautam's identity.
Geeta Hush Supper Club is the brainchild of chef and storyteller Geeta. She began Hush in her home in Washington, D.C. over four years ago. She has hosted over 90 suppers and more than 1,000 guests and has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, and The Washington Post. She also travels with her spice box. Geeta is available for private events, cooking classes, and public speaking on various topics about India's culture, cuisine, and religions.
Harsha Nahata Harsha is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan. She majored in public policy with a concentration in interational security and development policy. At Michigan, Harsha wrote opinion columns for the student news paper, The Michigan Daily, and was part of putting together a two-day social justice conference on behalf of the South Asian Awareness Network. In her free time, Harsha likes to write, try new food, and watch Scandal.
UW
2014 YJA CONVENTION WASHINGTON, D.C.
