Our newest board member, Bapu Vaitla is member of the City of Davis Social Services Commission and a fellow studying gender inequality with Data2x, an initiative housed in the United Nations Foundation. His core interest is the relationship between social cooperation and the well-being of children and young people. He studies why people decide to work together (or not) for mutual benefit, and the effects of these decisions on public policy, political movements, and ultimately the lives of children and youth.

Bapu was born in India and grew up in California. He holds a BA in Nature and Culture and an MS in International Agricultural Development from UC Davis, and a PhD in international relations/political economy from Tufts University. He has received a Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship, a Fulbright Scholarship, and a postdoctoral fellowship from Harvard University.

Welcome aboard, Bapu! Cool Davis is super happy to have you!

Visit our Leadership page to learn about our other board members.