Dr. Nishal Mohan is a distinguished leader and social entrepreneur, known for his profound impact on global social initiatives and his unwavering commitment to leveraging technology for societal change. Coming from a humble background, Dr. Mohan has risen as a champion of hope and transformation through his work as a scientist, technologist, entrepreneur, and policy architect.
In 2018, Dr. Mohan founded Mohuman, a nonprofit organization committed to bridging the digital divide and empowering digitally underserved communities. Under his leadership, Mohuman has launched several impactful initiatives, including moNET, a community-owned broadband network, moDAT, a platform providing essential digital resources, culturally relevant workforce development programs, and public policies that have helped to bring over $65 dollars to communities and towards technology equity. His work in advancing digital equity earned him recognition as an inaugural Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition honoree by the Federal Communications Commission.
Dr. Mohan’s career spans academia, government, nonprofit, and startup sectors where he has made significant contributions to science and technology. He has held influential roles at the National Science Foundation (NSF), US Ignite, the Federation of American Scientists, and the University of California, San Diego. His tenure as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at NSF was pivotal in shaping national strategies for Smart and Connected Communities, and Big Data R&D across federal agencies and the White House.
Dr. Mohan holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Princeton University and a B.A. in Biology from Hunter College (CUNY). He is a frequent speaker and advisor on AI justice, digital equity, smart cities, and public health, driven by a passion for ensuring technology serves humanity inclusively and equitably.
