First Bangladeshi joining Obama administration

US President Barack Obama has nominated N Nina Ahmad as the first Bangladeshi to his 14-member advisory commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).

Dr Ahmad is a co-owner and executive vice-president of government affairs for JNA Capital - a Philadelphia-based real estate finance and development company.

"I am pleased to announce that these experienced and committed individuals have agreed to join this Administration, and I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years," said Obama in a statement issued by the White House.

Obama is currently on a four-nation tour to Asia.

Of Bangladesh origin, Ahmad is founding member of APA for Progress, a grassroots, internet-empowered, national network of Asian Pacific Americans and friends for Progressive Action.

Nina Ahmad is going to be the first Bangladeshi-American to be installed in the high office of the Obama administration.

This Commission is charged with working to improve the quality of life of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through increased participation in and access to federal programmes.

Nina Ahmad and 13 other individuals will advise the President on innovative ways to engage AAPIs across the country and to improve their health, education, environment, and well-being.

She is the President of PrymeJenomix, LLC, an emerging life science company based in Philadelphia, PA.

Ahmad is a court-qualified expert witness in forensic DNA analysis. She provides testimony as well as reviews DNA typing results and interpretation.

She has also been a 49% owner of JNA Capital, Inc - a real estate finance and development company based in Philadelphia - since its inception in 1994.

The real estate finance and development consulting company sources debt and equity for commercial and urban mixed-use community development projects anchored by academic institutions.

She directs all matters pertaining to government and public affairs.

Ahmad received her Doctoral degree in 1990 from the chemistry department of the University of Pennsylvania. Her postdoctoral training was with noted collagen expert, Darwin Prockop, MD, PhD at Thomas Jefferson University.

Dr Ahmad discovered the first direct evidence of collagen type II gene mutation in the Stickler syndrome (joint-eye disease), which expanded the field by providing a starting point for molecular genetic research into the generalised disease of osteoarthritis. She is one of the patent holders of “Methods of Detecting a Genetic Predisposition for Osteoarthritis”.

She served on the Institutional Review Board at Wills Eye Hospital, which is responsible for scientific integrity of research projects and the safety of human subjects.

In January 2009, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter appointed her as the Chair of the newly reconstituted 25-member Commission on Asian American Affairs.

The Commission functions as an effective conduit between Philadelphia’s rapidly growing Asian American population, city government and the city at large.

Dr Ahmad serves on the Board of the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition.

She resides in the Mt Airy neighbourhood of Philadelphia with her husband Ahsan Nasratullah and two daughters.