Indian-American appointed to US museum board, another as MIT digital learning director

Indian-born Vishakha Desai, a leading expert on Asian art, has been appointed by the Obama administration as member of the National Museum and Library Services Board, a key administrative post.

The name of the prominent Indian-American, who is also president of global non-profit organisation Asia Society, figured in the list of appointments to 10 key administration posts announced Tuesday. "I am pleased to announce that these experienced and committed individuals have agreed to join this Administration, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead," President Barack Obama said in a statement.

A graduate from Bombay University, Desai studied from the University of Michigan.

An Indian-American professor of mechanical engineering and IIT alumni has been appointed as the first director of digital learning of the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Sanjay Sarma, the Fred Fort Flowers and Daniel Fort Flowers Professor of Mechanical Engineering, will work closely with the Institute's faculty and students to assess how new models of online instruction might become integral parts of MIT students' education. The announcement was made by MIT president L Rafael Reif. "As director of digital learning, Professor Sarma will serve as a convener and synthesiser," Reif wrote to the MIT. A 1989 IIT alumni, Sarma has long worked to develop new instructional techniques for mechanical engineering students.

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