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Priya Mendon
Director, Community Health Advocates 212.614.5331
pmendon@cssny.org
Priya Mendon manages and oversees daily operations of the Community Health Advocates (CHA) program, including internal and external communications, securing funding, and lobbying for CHA.
WHY THIS WORK IS IMPORTANT TO ME:
“We always describe our work as a basic human necessity. Health is a human right and when such a right is so complex to access and attain, there clearly is a flaw in the system. We at CHA strive to eliminate such flaws and make it our mission to minimize the barriers between clients and their right to safe and healthy lives.”
PRIOR EMPLOYMENT:
Prior to CSS, and while in school, Priya interned at several places including the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, and the Karna Prayag orphanage in India.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Member of UNICEF (2003 – present)
Member of the United Nations Association of the USA, UNA-USA (2006- present)
Member of Asha for Education, New York City (2004 – present)
BOOKS I WOULD RECOMMEND:
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Survival in the Killing Fields by Haing S. Ngor
"We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda" by Philip Gourevitch
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
EDUCATION:
M.S. in Global Affairs (Concentrations: International Relations, International Human Rights) – New York University (2008)
B.A. in Political Science (Concentrations: International Relations, South Asian Studies)-Bryn Mawr College, PA (2003)
Independent Minor – University of Pennsylvania (2002-2003)
Study Abroad Session – University College - London, England (2001-2002)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Rochester, NY, but hometown is Chennai, India
ANYTHING ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ME:
Priya adopted an irresistible Boston terrier puppy named Sir Nigel. And within the next 10 years, she vows to travel and experience every continent on the globe.