Ajay Kumar Ojha

Dr. Ajay K Ojha, P.H.D. of Washington DC and Smithfield, NC passed away while swimming off the Guatemalan coast on November 12, 2014. Funeral Arrangements are being handled by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home on 300 St. Mary's Street Raleigh NC 919-828-4311.

In lieu of flowers and to celebrate his life, an educational scholarship fund has been set up in his name through the Upakar Foundation and donations may be made at - http://www.upakarfoundation.org/named-scholarships/ajay-ojha-memorial .

Dr. Ojha who was born in Smithfield, NC in January 1976 would have turned thirty-nine this upcoming January, he leaves behind a substantial personal and professional legacy of caring for others during a short but brilliant life. He was in Guatemala helping disadvantaged poor people on a two week humanitarian aid mission with the not for profit Surf For Life. A strict vegetarian Ajay's belief in compassion and caring extended to all living things.

Ajay's humanitarianism was instilled by his parents, he was the elder of two sons of the late

Dr. Brig Ojha MD (Ophthalmologist) who passed when Ajay was only six, leaving upon Ajay the value of caring for others. This value system would carry forward with Ajay for the balance of his personal and professional life. Ajay's mother Mrs. Kanti Ojha who survives him is a long time social worker. In addition to his mother Ajay is survived by his younger brother Vijay Ojha of Smithfield. Ajay maintained close ties to his parental relations in India. He is survived in India by uncles and their families, who include numerous beloved cousins and their children who live in Jabalpur and Calcutta India. In his professional life he made numerous humanitarian trips to his parents’ native India to help the disadvantaged poor.

Dr. Ojha worked as a consultant for the federal government in Washington DC primarily assisting the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security with Program Management and Strategic Communications. Additionally, he served as Associate Faculty for The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. He graduated with a BA in Communication Studies from The University of North Carolina, a MA in Speech Communication from Eastern Illinois University, and a PHD in Speech Communication from Southern Illinois University, where he was in 2012 inducted into the Class of Outstanding Graduates. Also in 2012 Dr. Ojha was nominated by Washington DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray and approved by the Council of the District of Columbia as a member of the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Community Development. He served as a Member of the Alumni Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity for the University of North Carolina. He served in the U.S. AmeriCorps Disaster Preparedness Outreach Program.

Dr. Ojha in his career had taught for over 12 years and had presented and been invited to international and national conferences, and published numerous articles in Intercultural and Organizational Communication. He had the honor of speaking to the Gates Millennium Scholars. He served on the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Organizational Culture, Communications and Conflict (JOCCC) and the International Journal of Psychology and Counseling (IJPC).

Dr. Ojha also served on several international, national and university affiliated boards including Upakar: The Indian-American Scholarship Foundation, as a Trustee for the North American South Asian Bar Association (NASABA) Foundation.

Dr. Ojha also was a reviewer for the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) an organization helping to build the foundation for the United States Public Service is a Charter member of the National Language Service Corps (NLSC) and volunteers in community service.

Dr. Ojha regularly provided mentorship. Other past Board Involvements include serving as the President and Vice President for the Network of South Asian Professionals-DC Chapter.(NetSAP DC), serving as a co-planer for the South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) annual "Be the Change" community service even, and volunteering with Asha for education.

He was a lifelong member of the Hindu Temple of North Carolina where he was active in volunteer activities in his youth and where a service will be held to honor and celebrate his short but brilliant life.

Additionally, a memorial service is being held in Washington, D.C. by his friends and coworkers tentatively set for December 10, 2014. Location and time are being finalized and if you would like further information, please email his brother, Vijay at [email protected].