Mrs. Indu Rawat has been Trustee of the Rural India Supporting Trust since 2009. She is passionate about improving the lives of the millions of poor across India. She believes that it is a human right to have access to clean water, nutrition and healthcare, regardless of disability, gender, age or creed. Children should have access to creative and quality education, and people with disabilities lead inclusive and productive lives.
Her direction and vision have shaped RIST’s mission from its early days. Indu grew up in Dehra Dun and has always had great love for her home state. She has made Uttarakhand a key state for Rural India Supporting Trust and the Trust has implemented health, education and economic schemes across the state. Indu continues to play an active role, visiting with grantees and talking to people. Their experiences shape the future of an organization that works with partners across the country. With The Hans Foundation as a main implementing partner, RIST activities have benefited over 300,000 people. “To bring about positive change, we must pay attention to the story of every person”.
Since 2009, Shweta has guided RIST towards its key goal of improving the quality of life for people across India. She has emphasized the importance of enhancing the economy in impoverished communities, as a key element in health as well as income generation. Shweta’s interest in disability rights has made it a cross-sector focal point for the organization. She lives in New York with her two daughters, husband and English bulldog.
Paul Glick, Executive Director of RIST, joined the team in 2014. He is a career International Development professional that has designed, executed and monitored programs for public, private and government entities. Prior to joining RIST, Paul lived and worked in a variety of environments and contexts which allowed him to gain the perspective necessary to understand and implement programming which focuses on improving quality of life.
Laura joined the RIST team as the Director of Programs, based in Washington, DC, in 2024. She is an experienced project management and international health professional with over 15 years of experience in India, Africa, the Caribbean, and the U.S. Her background includes grants and project management for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, humanitarian work with the International Medical Corps in North and Central Africa, and she began her career as a Health Education Peace Corps Volunteer in Eswatini. Laura holds an MPH from George Washington University, a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and Medical Anthropology, and serves on the Board for Friends of Eswatini National Peace Corps Association organization.
Ashira is a Program Manager and Monitoring and Evaluation Lead at RIST. She conducts research activities with an aim to integrate M&E into the fabric of RIST’s work to best inform its decision making. Prior to joining RIST, Ashira held several roles at nonprofits working on financial inclusion, social emotional and youth learning as well as education and food policy. She has a M.A in International Relations from Harvard University and a B.S in Software Engineering from San Jose State University.
Andrew joined the RIST team as Program Manager in 2022. He has extensive experience leading humanitarian aid and development projects in the Balkans, Middle East, Africa and South Asia. Andrew is passionate about improving the lives of others through well-designed programs and strong partnerships. He has an MSc in European and International Politics from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in History from Miami University.
Hunayda joined RIST as a Program Manager in 2022. She brings in years of experience in field operations and project management in underserved communities and fragile environments. She supported the design and development of various development projects in Africa and the Middle East. She enjoys being part of mission-driven organizations that operate to support meaningful causes and make a difference in people’s lives.
Caitlin joined the RIST team as Program Manager, based in Washington, DC, in 2024. She previously worked in government and in the non-profit sector in the fields of international development, the environment and gender and public policy, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. She enjoys building strong relationships with partners to support them in designing impactful projects that address community needs. She has a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University and BAs in Chinese and Government & Politics from the University of Maryland.
Tiffany is an Associate Program Manager at RIST. Prior to joining RIST, Tiffany worked at several non-profit organizations leading different youth and adult education programs. She has experience organizing large-scale events, leadership programs, and curriculum and workshop development. She has a MA in Human Rights Studies from Columbia University and a BA in Political Science and International Security and Conflict Resolution from San Diego State University.
Kristina Zanzinger is an Associate Program Manager at RIST. She has a wide range of understanding regarding human rights and social movements focusing on gender-based violence, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. She has extensive experience conducting independent research and M&E for International and Domestic organizations. Kristina has an M.A. in Conflict Resolution from Georgetown University and a B.A. in International Relations with a focus on Global Politics from the University of San Francisco.
Anushka Verma is a Communications Manager at RIST. A performance-driven media professional, she enjoys developing new business initiatives, marketing and communication strategies and engaging in digital storytelling. Her experience spans across the education, technology and healthcare sectors in India and the US. She holds a Masters degree in Strategic Communication from Columbia University and completed her undergraduate studies from Delhi University.
