Aashi Parikh

Aashi graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and a minor in Technology Entrepreneurship. She is currently a Technical Coordinator with the ExxonMobil Research & Engineering division in Houston, TX. Aashi has worked across borders, cultures, and functions to build innovative digital solutions and has held additional roles in environmental services, data analytics, and global marketing. Aashi enjoys challenging orthodoxies and bringing creativity into every solution. The most rewarding aspect of her work has been collaborating with dynamic, international, and cross-functional teams to encourage human-centered product design. Aashi is passionate about the advancement of underrepresented groups in the workplace and cultural transformation. Outside of the office, Aashi is an avid amateur baker, foodie, rock-climber, and hiker.

Aashi’s engagement with Kenya Connect began in 2011 when she and her best-friend-turned-project-partner had the desire to connect with peers outside of their classroom at Arundel High School. Pairing a passion for reading and a desire to learn from peers with different backgrounds, the duo initiated an international book club with the students of Nyaani Secondary School in Wamunyu, Kenya. After several years of fundraising to provide infrastructure for the book club, Aashi traveled with Kenya Connect for the first time in 2013, where she had the opportunity to host a live book club session and meet her peers face-to-face!

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