Meet CAI’s New Board Members
By Tonya Andrews
Central Asia Institute is proud to welcome two new distinguished individuals to its
Board of Directors: Ambassador Richard A. Boucher and Raja Akram.
Richard’s career has been marked by significant roles in diplomacy, including serving as U.S. State Department spokesperson and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia. His extensive work in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia provided him with a profound understanding of the region’s complexities. However, it was his shift back to teaching at both the University of Michigan and Brown University that allowed him to return to his foundational values and engage again with the field of education. “I loved the time with the students, loved the feeling that you were changing their lives,” Richard shared. The career transition was driven by a desire to offer students a more nuanced perspective on global issues, his field of specialty.
Richard’s passion for education was first ignited during his Peace Corps service in Senegal, where he taught English. “I felt like I was opening up [the students’] lives a little bit and giving them some ability to look at the world,” he recalled, noting that he felt his work helped to broaden students’ perspectives and unfurl new possibilities for their futures.
Richard’s commitment to teaching is deeply intertwined with his belief in the transformative power of education to serve as a catalyst for personal and societal change. “Every single kid you educate is worthwhile,” he emphasized. “You never know which one is going to be a teacher, a doctor, or even a president.”
When asked why Richard was eager to join CAI’s board, he replied:
“I still have that Peace Corps mentality in me from the old days. I think, even under the difficult circumstances that exist in all these countries, CAI can reach some of those people and help them. Kids in rural villages have just as much right to learn and become educated as the kids
in the capitals do. And that is very important and worthwhile work. I look forward to contributing to the success of
CAI’s mission.”
Raja’s journey began in Pakistan, where he was born and raised before moving to the United States for college. He attended Texas A&M University, after which his professional life took him and his family to Texas, California, New York, and even Latin America.
Currently a senior leader at Morgan Stanley, Raja is deeply involved in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. He explained, “ESG is about our practices around diversity and inclusion, our impact on climate, and our sustainability practices. It’s about being a good corporate citizen and making a positive impact on our employees, clients, and communities.”
Raja sees significant potential for applying these principles to CAI. “While ESG is often discussed in the context of corporations, it can also be relevant to nonprofits. At CAI, we can think about our footprint and our impact on the environment. This includes building schools in a sustainable way and considering our use of resources and waste management.”
In his daily work, Raja fosters an environment where team members feel comfortable expressing their ideas. “I believe in giving people the space to do their work and make mistakes. It’s the only way they learn and grow,” he said. In his view, a leader must be comfortable with sharing vulnerabilities, open to feedback, and willing to improve based upon it, which helps to create a culture of trust and open communication.
Raja’s decision to join CAI’s board was driven by a deep personal connection to the organization’s mission:
“I have an affinity for the Central Asia region because of my roots in Pakistan. This opportunity allows me to give back to a region that means so much to me. Additionally, when I think of my daughter who is 10, and the opportunities she has, and her love of reading, and everything she has accessible to her, and then I think there are probably so many children like her who do not have the same opportunities, and probably never will…this makes me excited to support CAI’s work in providing education to children who otherwise might not have the opportunity.”
