Tripathi to attend address to Congress by Indian prime minister

President Satish K. Tripathi will attend an address to a joint session of Congress by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow as the guest of Rep. Brian Higgins.

“Under President Tripathi’s leadership, the University at Buffalo has grown its standing as a research, innovation and education leader locally, nationally and globally,” Higgins said. “As a native of India and one who clearly understands the value of international and multidisciplinary collaborations, we are pleased to welcome President Tripathi to this historic binational event.” 

Tripathi grew up in a village in Patna in Uttar Pradesh, India, and graduated from Banaras Hindu University in northern India before moving to Canada to pursue additional master’s and doctoral degrees.

“It is a true honor to be Congressman Higgins’ guest at this historic joint meeting of Congress, and I greatly look forward to hearing Prime Minister Modi’s address,” Tripathi said. “The University at Buffalo is proud to be one of the most internationalized universities in the nation, with a very robust student population from India, as well as a strong community of Indian postdocs and faculty scholars.”

As UB’s 15th president and leader of SUNY’s flagship university, Tripathi has sought to expand UB’s international programs and relationships. He entered into an agreement with Modi’s predecessor, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, for a collaborative partnership between UB and India’s prestigious Amrita University. Under his leadership, UB and six Indian institutions of higher learning signed a 2022 memorandum of understanding to collaborate in educational initiatives and research related to nanomaterials and nanotechnology, biotechnology, advanced sensors, photonics and artificial intelligence.

Tripathi also co-chairs the Association of American Universities’ Task Force on Expanding US-India University Partnerships. 

President Biden will welcome Modi to Washington, D.C., for an official state visit June 21-23.  During the trip leaders are expected to discuss ways to elevate technology partnerships and expand educational exchanges, among other shared interests.