JR Sandadi
President
JR Sandadi was born in Hyderabad, India, where he was raised on Hindu values with a strong emphasis on education and good character. He immigrated to the US in 1990. Carmel has been home for the last 22 years.
JR was with Unisys Corporation for 23 years before quitting the corporate world in 2017 to pursue engagement with various Sewa (Sewa, Sanskrit selfless service) organizations. JR volunteers his time with Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), Sewa International USA, Hindu Education Foundation, Brightlane Learning, the Center for Interfaith Cooperation, Carmel Interfaith Alliance and the Indiana Multifaith Network.
Education: Master’s in Education: Master’s in industrial Engineering from Louisiana Tech University, Master’s in Mathematics and Master in Management Studies from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS – Pilani). industrial Engineering from Louisiana Tech University, Master’s in Mathematics and Master in Management Studies from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS – Pilani).
JR is currently the Joint-Executive Director of the Great Lakes Zone of HSS, USA.
He dedicates his time to Brightlane Learning as a volunteer, where he tutors children from inner city communities and actively participates in the diversity committee. Holding the position of vice-chairman on the board of the Center for Interfaith Cooperation, he also serves as a board member for the Carmel Interfaith Alliance. Furthermore, he played a pivotal role as a founding member of the Indiana Multifaith Network.
JR is a runner, having run 7 marathons, including Boston, NYC, Chicago, Carmel, Big Sur International, Monumental, and London. He has also run in 20 half-marathons.
Rabbi Brian Besser
Past-President
Rabbi Brian Besser has served on the board of directors of the Indiana Multifaith Network since 2019, and has been President of the IMN since June 2022. Prior to his involvement with IMN, he served on the Bloomington Multi-faith Alliance as co-chair from 2018 to 2022. He was the Rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom in Bloomington, IN from 2012 to 2023. Rabbi Besser’s passion for contact, conversation, and collaboration with people of many faiths stems in large part from his conviction that these multi-faith relationships enrich and strengthen his own.
Outside of Rabbi Brian’s rabbinic work, his greatest passion is hiking, particularly long-distance backpacking. In 1988, he trekked 2600 miles from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail. Nature provides his oldest, deepest source of spiritual renewal—and not just in its grandest manifestations. He has come to appreciate the subtle and restful beauty of a quiet walk in the woods of Southern Indiana.
Charlie Wiles
Treasurer
Charlie is the Executive Director of the Center for Interfaith Cooperation in Indianapolis. He holds a degree in political science from Indiana University and spent several years working in construction, managing a not-for-profit organization focused on peace education, and served as a combat medic in the US Army Reserves.
Charlie’s is married to Sachiko Utsumi Wiles from Tokyo. Together they are attempting to raise their children with an appreciation of their diverse religious and cultural traditions. Charlie loves to travel, play and listen to music, and enjoys the outdoors.
Regarding interfaith engagement, Charlie states, “For me, authentic interfaith engagement affirms my faith in humanity. If we approach interfaith community building with curiosity and humility, it can be transformative. I believe that it is an essential tool to help overcome many of the challenges we face in the modern era. It is also fun and very enriching!”
Rev. Nic Cable
At-Large Member
Rev. Nic Cable has served as Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus, IN, since 2017. He received degrees from DePaul University and Chicago Theological Seminary, and fellowships from the Forum for Theological Exploration, Interfaith Youth Core, and Lilly Endowment, Inc. Nic has previously served congregations in Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota, in addition to working at the UUA in Stewardship and Development. Locally, he serves on the board of directors for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, the Guiding Team for Imagine Columbus, which is a city-wide inclusion initiative, and as the Executive Director of Columbus Interfaith. Nic is married to his best friend, Hattie Cable, who is a child welfare attorney, and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Holiday and Cedar.
Rev. Dr. Douglas Cripe
At-Large Member
Doug holds a Bachelor’s Degree from DePauw University with a focus in music, psychology, and religion. He received a Child Development Associate Credential in Early Childhood, a Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Eden Theological Seminary (with his dissertation on “Prayer Rug Spirituality: Weaving Interfaith Dialogue with Practice of Prayer”).
He has taken three years of Spiritual Direction courses and supervision at Anabaptist Mennonite Seminary and is a member of Spiritual Director’s International. His experiences of ministry include being nurtured as a child in the Mennonite Church and serving over 30 years as a pastor with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in IN, KY, IL, and MO. His roles included preaching, worship leadership, pastoral care, and community involvement mixed with educational experiences and Bible study with all age groups. He also worked as a curriculum editor and writer (Christian Board of Publication), as a hospital chaplain, and as adjunct faculty at McKendree University, where he taught Religion in the U.S., Interfaith Explorations, Religions of the West, Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures, and Hebrew language.
Doug’s interfaith experiences began in college and deepened during seminary. After the events of 9/11, Doug co-founded the MetroEast Interfaith Partnership to bring together people from various faith traditions to learn about one another’s faith traditions through visiting places of worship, book studies, experiencing foods related to faith traditions, and involving college students in interfaith experiences.
Risé Friedman
At-Large Member
Risé Friedman is a longstanding member of Indianapolis’ Jewish community, recently serving as the President of the Sisterhood at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. A lawyer by trade, she previously was Corporate Counsel with The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation heading the Peripheral Development section of the Legal Real Estate Department, and Senior Counsel and Divisional Counsel with Simon Property Group, focusing on land acquisition and new development projects. She resides in Indianapolis with her husband, Todd Wentico, and their dogs Hank and Lydia, who are their third set of rescued dogs.
Nabiha Mahmood
At-Large Member
Nabiha Mahmood is an extraordinary and inspirational leader deeply committed to the world of human development. Her unique blend of creativity and exceptional communication skills empowers individuals to not only unlock their full potential but to also envision their very best selves.
As a Certified Registered Behavior Therapist, Nabiha has amassed invaluable experience in working with children who have diverse learning needs. Her dedication to fostering growth and transformation in these young minds has left an indelible mark on the lives she has touched.
Simultaneously, Nabiha is fervently pursuing her academic aspirations. She is currently in the final stages of completing her undergraduate degree with a double major in Psychology and Religious Studies at the IUPUI. She has been an academic coach at the BEPKO Learning Center and is currently an Undergraduate Researcher. Her academic journey has equipped her with a deep understanding of human behavior and a profound appreciation for the intricacies of different belief systems.
Nabiha also serves as the Vice Principal of Academics at Al-Ilm Weekend School in Indianapolis. In this influential role, she leads a dedicated team of 20 instructors, working tirelessly to provide quality Islamic education to over 250 students. Her visionary leadership has not only elevated the educational standards but has also instilled a sense of purpose and unity within the school’s community.
One of Nabiha’s most remarkable qualities is her unwavering curiosity about faith and spirituality. Driven by her profound connection to Islam, she tirelessly delves into the intricacies of her own faith while also exploring the diverse tapestry of world religions. Nabiha’s passion extends beyond academic study; she actively engages with individuals from varying faiths and backgrounds, fostering a climate of understanding, respect, and unity. Nabiha’s journey is a testament to her unrelenting commitment to human development, her remarkable leadership skills, and her insatiable thirst for knowledge. Her ability to inspire and empower others is matched only by her genuine passion for bridging the gap between cultures and faiths, making her a true force for positive change in the world.
Nicholas Okoro
At-Large Member
Nick Okoro, originally from the UK, is a senior at Butler University, where he is pursuing a degree in business technology and analytics. Four years ago, he moved to the States to join the Butler men’s soccer team.
Before that, Nick was part of Birmingham City’s Academy from ages twelve to eighteen. At Butler, he has played a key role on the men’s soccer team, helping them reach the semi-finals of the Big East tournament twice.
Beyond the field, Nick is a dedicated student leader in Athletes in Action (AIA), head of recruitment for the Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity, and a mentor to first and second-year student-athletes. He also interned with the Indy Centre for Interfaith Cooperation, where he worked under Charlie Wiles, (a board member.)
Post-graduation, Nick aspires to stay within the soccer industry, aiming to become a performance or data analyst, with the ultimate goal of serving as a technical director for a professional soccer team.
Dr. Douglas Perry
At-Large Member
Douglas, now retired in Madison, IN, had a long career in higher education as a scientist, professor, and senior academic leader. His education is in health and life sciences, holding two undergraduate degrees and three graduate degrees, including a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai (New York). As a federally funded research scientist on the faculty of the Indiana University School of Medicine, he published more than 40 professional works and served as a member of various professional organizations. As an academic leader, Douglas was the one of the principal founders of the Indiana University School of Informatics (2000) and the founding dean of the College of Informatics at Northern Kentucky University (2006). Douglas retired as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Indiana Tech (Fort Wayne).
Douglas has been a Bahá’í ever since he first learned about the Bahá’í Faith in 1968. One of the fundamental principles of this religion is the essential harmony of science and religion, when both are understood in their deepest and most comprehensive sense. He is keenly interested in promoting this understanding. Related to this interest, he holds active memberships in the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science (IRAS), the International Society for the Study of Science and Religion (ISSR), the European Society for the Study of Science and Theology (ESSSAT), and the Oxford-based Science and Religion Forum (SRF). He also holds memberships in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE).
John Pinter
At-Large Member
John is the Executive Director of the United Religious Community of St. Joseph County, a position he has served in since 2015. In addition to that, John has a small consulting business, working with nonprofits, educational institutions, and municipal organizations. He also teaches in the Mendoza College of Business Nonprofit Certificate Program and assists with the Mandela Washington Fellowship of the Pulte Institute.
In a prior position with the American Red Cross, the local chapter served as a refugee resettlement site in greater South Bend, which went through a process of establishing a State Department approved entity in collaboration with Church World Service (one of nine NGOs that work with State to help resettle families in the US).
John is a graduate of Notre Dame (BA in Government) and the University of Utah (MBA).
Sundeep Singh
At-Large Member
Born in Carteret, New Jersey and raised in Fishers, Indiana, Sundeep attended Hamilton Southeastern High School before heading to Butler University, where he double majored in Biology and Political Science with a minor in Chemistry. After college, Sundeep completed his law degree at Indiana University – McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he held the title of Chief Justice of the Moot Court Society and Vice President of the Asian Law Students Association. Sundeep is a practicing attorney at the firm of RileyCate, LLC in Fishers, Indiana. Sundeep handles criminal defense, personal injury, medical malpractice, civil litigation, class action, defamation, and business litigation cases. Sundeep was an advocate and mentor through the law school Re-Entry and Community Help Program, where he reported monthly to the District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and assisted local, newly released federal offenders in their journey of integrating back into society. Sundeep firmly believes that everyone deserves a second chance and has been involved with community efforts to reduce recidivism. Sundeep currently lives in Fishers, Indiana and enjoys spending time with his family, playing basketball, traveling, and reading.
Indiana Multifaith Network 