Leadership
The leadership of New Start Academy is driven by experience, compassion, and a deep commitment to service. Our leadership team brings together educators, professionals, and community advocates who understand the challenges adult learners face—and are passionate about helping them succeed.
Our leaders guide the academy with a learner-centered mindset, ensuring programs remain practical, inclusive, and aligned with workforce and community needs. They work closely with instructors, partners, and volunteers to maintain high educational standards while preserving the supportive environment that defines New Start Academy.
Above all, our leadership believes in leading with integrity, empathy, and accountability—creating a culture where learners are respected, encouraged, and inspired to achieve their goals.
Board of Directors
Dr. Puru (Purnendu) Mandal
Chair, Board of DirectorsDr. Puru Mandal is an accomplished academic leader, educator, and executive with over three decades of experience in higher education, research, and institutional leadership. He serves as a Professor of Management at the College of Business, Lamar University, where he has taught strategic management, information systems, and organizational leadership since 2004.
In addition to his academic role, Dr. Mandal is the President and CEO of Texas HealthTech Institute, a higher education institution focused on business, healthcare, and workforce training. He has founded and led multiple education and technology initiatives aimed at strengthening workforce readiness and institutional capacity.
Dr. Mandal holds a Ph.D. in Management Science from the University of Bradford (UK), along with advanced degrees in industrial management and technology. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, contributed to academic books, and organized international conferences on strategy, innovation, and technology.
As Chair of the Board of Directors of New Start Academy, Dr. Mandal provides strategic oversight, governance leadership, and academic insight to support NSA’s mission of expanding access to high-quality adult education and workforce pathways.
Sher Jan Ahmadzai is the Director of the Center for Afghanistan and Regional Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he oversees academic, programmatic, and administrative affairs and teaches courses on the geopolitics of Central and South Asia.
With more than 17 years of professional experience in the United States and Afghanistan—including service as an aide to the Afghan President-Mr. Ahmadzai brings deep expertise in governance, regional security, and international relations. His scholarly work includes research and publications on transboundary water resources, hydro-politics, and water security.
Mr. Ahmadzai has contributed to policy research for USAID, collaborated with Chatham House on climate fragility risk assessments submitted to the United Nations Security Council, and participated in multiple Track-II dialogues on counterterrorism and regional security. He is also a frequent media commentator for outlets such as VOA, BBC, CNN, and The Conversation.
As a Board Member of New Start Academy, Mr. Ahmadzai brings valuable global perspective, policy expertise, and cross-cultural insight in support of NSA’s educational mission.
Sher Jan Ahmadzai
Board Member
Ajmal Ayan
Board Member | Program DirectorAjmal Ayan is an education and program development professional with extensive experience in adult education, workforce initiatives, and organizational growth. He serves as the Program Development Director of New Start Academy, where he leads program design, strategic planning, and partnership development to ensure accessible, high-quality learning opportunities for adult learners.
His professional background includes nonprofit development, capacity building, and community-based education initiatives, with a strong focus on serving immigrants, refugees, and underserved populations. Ajmal’s work emphasizes practical, outcome-driven education pathways that connect learning to employment, economic mobility, and long-term self-sufficiency.
As a Board Member, Ajmal contributes operational insight, strategic leadership, and a deep commitment to education as a tool for empowerment and social impact.