International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Chief Economist Gita Gopinath & National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Scientist Kamlesh Lulla have been named among the ‘2021 Great Immigrants’ honourees named by the Carnegie Corporation of Network, a US-based non-profit organisation. A total of 34 immigrants representing 30 countries of origin have been named in the Class of 2021.
- The 2021 Class of Immigrants marks the 16th class of Great Immigrants. They will be recognised with a full-page public service announcement in the New York Times on the US Independence Day on July 4 and through a social media campaign.
- Each year, the foundation honours naturalised citizens of the US, who have enriched and strengthened the US society and democracy through their contributions and actions.
- It aims to increase public awareness of immigration’s role in the US.
Key Points
i.Gita Gopinath is an Indian American Economist, she hails from Kannur, India. She has been holding the position of Chief Economist of IMF since 2019.
- In 2019, she was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest honour that Indian government gives to overseas Indians and persons of Indian Origin.
ii.Kamlesh Lulla is a senior advisor for University Research and Technology Collaboration at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre and the former Chief Scientist for Earth Observations (Space Shuttle).
- Lulla is the recipient of 3 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medals. In 2015 he was awarded Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.
iii.Other honourees in the 2021 class are Pfizer Chairman & CEO Albert Bourla; Ivan Poupyrev, Google’s Director of Engineering and Technical Projects Lead; Luis Von Ahn, Creator of language-learning software Duolingo, and celebrities like actress Helen Mirren and Comedian John Oliver.
iv.The Class of 2021 emphasises service to society, including honourees who are recognised for helping others as medical providers and researchers; as advocates for the disadvantaged, disabled, and disenfranchised; and as changemakers in politics, voting rights, climate change, and teaching.
Carnegie Corporation of New York
- The Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911. The Great Immigrants Initiative of Carnegie Corporation aims to honour immigrants.
- To date, more than 600 outstanding immigrants have been honoured by the Carnegie Corporation.
About Carnegie Corporation of Network
President – Vartan Gregorian
Headquarters – New York
