Ranjan Shakya

Ranjan Shakya is an immigrant from Kathmandu, Nepal dedicated to serving BIPOC communities. Prior to his selection as a National Urban Fellows program, Ranjan worked as a Program Associate at Empire Health Foundation in Spokane, WA from 2020 – 2023. In this role he worked with Native behavioral health and cultural practitioners in the development of an integrative cultural healing model to address intergenerational trauma and substance abuse for tribal communities in Eastern Washington. In addition to philanthropy, Ranjan brings four years of experience working at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) in Portland, OR. At IRCO, Ranjan’s primary roles were managing programs specific to youth development, food insecurity and after-school enrichment for middle and elementary school students, primarily immigrant and refugee youth. Ranjan also served Portland’s Bhutanese refugee community for four years as a Nepali-language interpreter working directly with individuals and families in educational, medical and legal settings.  

Ranjan earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Community Health Education from Portland State University in 2014 as well as an undergraduate certificate in Global Studies. Following his high school graduation, his writing earned him the Goodman Scholarship which provided him with a $14,000 undergraduate scholarship. His college education spurred him to join the Peace Corps as a Community Health Volunteer in South Africa where he collaborated with nonprofits, clinics, and schools to improve community health initiatives in a rural South African community.  

In his spare time, Ranjan likes riding a bicycle and believes it is one of the most empowering and sustainable means of transportation. He also mentors a fourth grade student whose family is from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Spending time with youth and helping shape their future brings him immense joy.  

As a NUF Fellow, Ranjan looks forward to building his policy and advocacy knowledge, and honing his leadership skills to lead a public health focused nonprofit or philanthropic organization in the future.