Washington, Oct 6 (IANS): An Indian-origin IT professional has been appointed as the chief information officer and senior vice president-operational support at USA Funds, a nonprofit corporation that offers aid to college students.

"Shital (Patel) brings to USA Funds extensive leadership experience in both the private sector and government, as well as significant expertise in aligning information technology capabilities with emerging business strategies," USA Funds chief Bill Hansen said in a statement on Monday.

Patel will be responsible for all aspects of USA Funds' information technology and services and will lead the exploration of emerging information service opportunities, issues and solutions for the Indianapolis-based nonprofit organisation.

"She will provide key leadership as USA Funds continues its transition toward becoming a national leader in promoting better outcomes for students in post-secondary education and in the workforce," Hansen said.

Patel most recently managed enterprise sales for Microsoft in Indiana. Her previous experience includes service as chief information officer for the city of Indianapolis and as a managing director for Unisys Corp.

She is a graduate of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. She serves on the board of directors of the Indiana Youth Institute.

USA Funds was founded in 1960 by a group of business leaders who were concerned about the rising cost of a college education. The corporation has served more than 22 million students and parents with more than $250 billion in financial aid for higher education.