New York, Apr 15 (IANS): Akanksha Education Fund, a New York-based non-profit that supports initiatives to improve access to high quality education for the disadvantaged children in India, has named an Indian-American as its new Executive Director.

"The Akanksha Education Fund is thrilled to announce that Sejal Desai, of Dallas, Texas, will be the new Executive Director of the Akanksha Education Fund," The American Bazaar quted the organisation's Board of Directors as saying in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the organisation, Desai's 30-year career includes work in sectors like venture capital, M&A, accounting, entrepreneurship, non-profit and corporate social responsibility.

Most recently, she worked at Communities Foundation of Texas, where she led a strategic initiative focused on engaging businesses in the community.

She also started a social venture, SevaYatra, focused on engaging US-based universities and multinational corporations with India-based NGOs.

Desai had lived in Mumbai for almost 20 years.

Ramesh Srinivasan, the Fund's Board Chair noted that Desai's combined roots in Dallas and Mumbai are perfect for this moment in the non-profit's growth.

"This is an exciting venture for all of us, as our future outreach depends in part on growing our presence well beyond the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area. We have some terrific seeds planted already and Sejal is poised to make them grow."

In response to the announcement, Desai said: "I am excited to embark on this new chapter in my life and work together with individuals, corporates and foundations across the US to advance educational outcomes for underserved children in India."

Established over 23 years ago, the Fund has raised and granted millions to the Akanksha Foundation (a registered Indian charity), which currently operates 21 best-in-class schools for under-resourced children in Mumbai and Pune.