I’ve been a Watertown resident for 10 years after moving here from Philadelphia, PA. in 2015 and am proud and grateful to have a community that I can call home. When my husband, Steve, and I first moved to the area, we wrestled with what kind of community we would want to settle down in and raise our family. We had spent the previous five years moving frequently - from Michigan to DC to Iowa to Philly and then Watertown - and this gave us insight into the different aspects of communities and neighborhoods that we loved.

As educators, Steve and I knew that data and test scores never tell a full picture of the educational environment. We were excited about the socioeconomic, linguistic, and cultural diversity of the student body in the Watertown Public Schools and recognized the huge benefit that it offers to developing the social and life skills that build well-rounded individuals. The community of engaged citizens, local businesses, cultural and civic institutions, and, most of all, the relationships we’ve built is what has made Watertown home for us. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, I was humbled with gratitude by the families who dropped off meals, watched our kids, and showed us the true value of beloved community.

I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where my parents settled after emigrating from India as international students in the late 1960s and early ‘70s. My mother still runs her dental practice in the area and my father devoted over thirty-five years as an engineer at Ford Motor Company. I’m a proud graduate of Ann Arbor Public Schools and completed my BA in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Sciences, with a minor in Journalism, at Michigan State University, followed by a Master of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan—a school attended by my mother and both brothers, as well.

My passion for education and community began early. During college, I worked for the State News, the student paper at MSU, and my first journalism job after graduation was at the Newark Advocate in Newark, OH., Covering many local city council meetings led to my interest in public health and pursuing further education. While I applied for graduate programs, I was a substitute teacher in the Ann Arbor Public Schools and particularly enjoyed teaching middle and high school. Subbing continues to be one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever had! I also worked as a tutor for the AAPS homebound tutoring program that supported students who couldn’t attend school for medical or psychiatric reasons. I have been committed to supporting students, families, and their well-being throughout my career.

The majority of my public health work was through the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, part of a Waltham-based nonprofit called the Education Development Center, a Waltham-based nonprofit, where I supported more than 50 colleges and universities nationwide in implementing federal mental health and suicide prevention programs on their campuses. This rewarding work inspired me to transition into career services, and for the past nine years, I have helped over 1,000 graduate students at MIT and Harvard—primarily in public health—clarify their goals, craft job search strategies, negotiate their salaries, and successfully pursue meaningful careers. Today, I continue to support public health students as they build their futures. Steve is a tenured professor of philosophy at Bentley University where he teaches ethics - from disability and medical ethics to ethics and technology.

My children are now in 1st and 5th grade at JR Lowell Elementary School where they have had wonderful teachers so far. Our family is closely involved with the community- whether through Watertown Youth Soccer, the Watertown Children’s Theatre, the Fine, Applied, and Performing Arts program through WPS, and the numerous camps and programs offered through Watertown Community Education. We are thrilled about the new KidConnect aftercare program at the Watertown Boys and Girls Club in the upcoming year. Our kids also attend classes through Chinmaya Mission Boston- Newton Chapter where they learn about their Indian heritage and culture. We have attended the Watertown Unity Breakfast, been a part of the Watertown team that attends the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace organized by the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, and completed the Kingian nonviolence course offered through town which has exposed us to many individuals and local organizations committed to making Watertown a safe and inclusive place for all.

For fun, you can find me playing pickleball through the Watertown Rec Department at Victory Field, at the Farmer’s Market and summer concerts on Wednesdays, using the 3D printer at Hatch Makerspace, or checking out more books than I can read at the Watertown Free Public Library. I’m an amateur gardener who learns a lot from the Watertown Growing Our Gardens Together Facebook group and a frequent Buy Nothing Project Watertown Southwest user.