Manjusha P. Kulkarni

Manjusha P. Kulkarni is the Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) and the AAPI Equity Alliance, organizations that collectively serve and represent community-based organizations and the 1.5 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles County. Kulkarni co-founded Stop AAPI Hate in March 2020, the nation’s foremost aggregator of COVID-19-related hate incidents against AAPIs. She has remained committed to addressing issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout her career.

Besides her extensive work in the community, Kulkarni is also a Lecturer in the Asian American Studies Department at UCLA. In 2021, she addressed global issues at the Milken Institute's Global Conference, reflecting her influence in the field. Her impact has been recognized by several publications and institutions. TIME magazine listed Kulkarni as one of the 100 most influential individuals, while Bloomberg Businessweek categorized her as one of the 50 individuals “with the ability to move markets or shape ideas and policies."

Throughout her career, Kulkarni has received numerous awards for her work in advocating for AAPI communities. She was the recipient of the White House Champions of Change award in April 2014 for her work in improving healthcare access for Asian American communities. In recognition of her efforts for racial justice, she received the Bank of America’s Racial Equity Award. Kulkarni's work with Stop AAPI Hate also earned her the 2021 Webby Social Movement of the Year award.

Kulkarni's work and expertise have been featured in major media outlets such as the New York Times, PBS Newshour, NBC, NPR, and CNN, and she has shared her insights with entities such as the Aspen Institute, the World Bank, and the United Nations. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and a Juris Doctor degree from Boston University School of Law. She is a member of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and serves on the California Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board, further contributing to her commitment to the community.