Executive Director, Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio
Sudarshan Pyakurel is a Refugee Congress Honorary Delegate from Ohio. He is a former refugee from Bhutan who came to the U.S. in 2010. Sudarshan is the Executive Director of Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio (BCCO), and community leader and advocate for social justice.
He actively works in the community for equity, advocacy, and empowerment of refugees and immigrants. He is a nationally certified Mental Health First Aid instructor and a member of Trauma Responsive Care through the CARE Coalition. He is also on the steering committee for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) for Region 5 and a Migrant and Refugee Leadership Academy Fellow.
In 2018, Sudarshan was named to the State New American Advisory committee by Ohio Governor Kasich and was reappointed by Governor DeWine in 2021.
He has a master’s degree in English Literature and bachelor’s degree in Economics from India, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from The Ohio State University and an associate’s degree in Philosophy from Cuyahoga Community College. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Social Work at The Ohio State University.