Dr. Nilani Shankar

Education
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Nominee's Key Links: 

Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilani-shankar-ph-d-lpc-ncsp-b580332b4

Resume or CV: https://linktr.ee/drnilani

Writing or Publications: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nilani-Shankar

Website: 

Video: 

Socials: https://www.instagram.com/drnilaniofficial

 

Agency or agencies for which nominator feels nominee is best suited:

  • Department of Education
  • Department of Health and Human Services


    Organization name(s) and position(s) for which nominator feels nominee is best suited:

    Department of Education; Department of Health and Human Services - NIH, FDA, USDA - National School Lunch Program

     

    Policies which the nominator knows the nominee supports or in which they have expertise:

    I support the following causes:
    -Trump-Kennedy Chronic Disease Coalition
    -School choice and Educational Freedom Accounts (EFAs)
    -Parental rights in education
    -Healthy school lunches
    -Quality academic curriculum in our public schools, no CRT
    -Medical freedom (religious, medical, and philosophical vaccine exemptions for K-12 students)
    -Healthy food and natural health options accessible to all Americans
    -Title 9

     

    Nominator's thoughts on what would make this nominee a valuable member of a future Trump Unity Government

    1) Is Competent - I am a Ph.D.-level school psychologist, Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I have helped many families with educational and mental health issues that their children are experiencing. Additionally, I am a life-long learner who is an avid reader and podcast listener. I keep up-to-date with the current trends in education, mental health, and medical health. I have specific expertise in autism assessment and am trained in the ADOS-2. I am a published author with research experience in the fields of school psychology, pediatric psychology, health psychology, and educational psychology focusing on mind-body health. During my graduate and Ph.D. training at the University of Connecticut (UCONN), I founded a UCONN Mind Body Special Interest Research Group. This was a networking group between professionals in various fields (e.g., psychologists, professors, research scientists, medical doctors, hospitalists, naturopaths, pediatricians, students, etc.) to co-collaborate on research projects pertaining to mind-body health. It was highly successful and still operates today.

    2) Is Honest - I have always advocated for the childs well-being in every PPT, 504, parent/school team meeting, and due process case.

    3) Is Respectful - As a school psychologist, I listen and offer advice to help my students. In addition, I listen to parents and teachers in a non-judgmental way. I do not push my personal views on others in my job. When there is conflict, I remain calm, and respectful, and am willing to problem-solve to talk out our differences.

    4) Has Integrity - I will always do what is right for the student. I participate in events at the local and state levels to advocate for students, parents, and teachers.

    5) Has Courage - I have spoken up in many school meetings and I am an outside-of-the-box thinker. I am courageous in that I actively participate in town and state-wide political events as a registered Republican voter within a blue state.

    6) Has a Proven Record - My colleagues will say that I am dedicated, honest, and a life-long learner. If I do not know the answer, I will research a topic, network, and connect with other professionals to further my learning. I feel that students, parents, and the teachers that I serve genuinely like me in my school district.

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    Hi everyone! Here is some additional information about me that I submitted. There may be a glitch in the system - it didn’t show up in my application (above):

    Dr. Nilani Shankar is a Ph.D.-level school psychologist, Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She currently works as an early intervention school psychologist in the Connecticut Public Schools. Dr. Shankar became politically involved during the COVID-19 Pandemic when she saw, first-hand, the detrimental effects of masking, PPE equipment, and distance learning on our youngest student’s mental health, cognitive, and language development. This spurred a great awakening within her and a firm commitment to advocate for freedom causes such as medical freedom, school choice, parental rights, Title 9, and transparency with the public schools (curriculum and policy-wise). Since then, she has attended numerous rallies, talks, and events in Connecticut and New Hampshire to support, advocate, and learn through the following organizations: Connecticut GOP (CT GOP), Westbrook Town Republican Committee (Westbrook RTC), Unmask Our Kids CT/CT Parents, CT Liberty Rally, Brownstone Institute, Free State Project, New Hampshire (NH) Liberty Forum, the Porcupine Freedom Festival (Porc Fest), and more.

    Dr. Shankar has submitted written testimony at the state level to advocate for student freedom during the COVID-19 Pandemic: https://www.cga.ct.gov/ph/related/20220208_Continuation%20of%20Emergency%20Declarations%20and%20Limited%20Executive%20Orders/Statement-Nilani%20Shankar.pdf

    She can be seen at sign waves in her town of Westbrook, surrounding Connecticut towns, and in New Hampshire to support local and state politicians who advocate for freedom and liberty. Dr. Shankar fully supports the Trump-Kennedy Unity Party. This election season, she is sign-waving to support the Trump-Kennedy Unity Party and Make America Healthy Again.

    Additionally, Dr. Shankar is a member of her Republican Town Committee (RTC) in Westbrook, CT, and a member of the Westbrook Public Library Board of Trustees. She advocated for an equal balance of books on the topic of transgender parenting at her local library. There were two books in support of trans-parenting and she advocated for two books opposing trans-parenting to be placed on the library shelf. As a result, patrons now have access to information on both sides of the issue.

    On a personal level, Dr. Shankar has experienced tremendous success with natural health modalities and advocates for a substantial change in our current medical system.

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    Nilani’s bio is impressive. She is very passionate about education not indoctrination. We need people like her. She is young, smart and energetic.

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    I have worked with Dr. Shankar on the Republican Town Committee. She is an extremely smart and talented educator, and she brings passion, empathy, and positive energy to every situation. It is a pleasure to work with her. She would be a great asset to any organization - especially MAHA

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    I can think of no one better suited for a position with the Department of Education and/or Department of Health and Human Services than Dr Nilani Shankar. I’ve know Nilani since we attended university together. A fearless woman with high integrity, strong, intelligent, and committed to improving lives and ensuring freedoms to all Americans! Her resume is impressive and her track record is proven. She stood for truth and common sense advocating for the health and well-being of our nations children even when faced with adversaries. Dr Shankar will be an invaluable and outstanding leader in service to Make America Healthy Again!

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    I nominated myself for DoEd as well. I would love to work with you!

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    Dr. Shankar and reader,
    Bring back school gardens!
    The reinstatement of gardening as part of the school curriculum could give children the opportunity to learn how to grow food, fostering a deep sense of responsibility, self-reliance, and environmental stewardship from a young age. There’s a strong case, too, for the positive effects on physical and mental well-being—qualities we desperately need to nurture in today’s youth.

    Historically, school gardens were a core part of American education. However, post-WWI, the shift toward academics and industry sidelined these essential life skills, and we’re seeing the effects today as generations grow up increasingly disconnected from where their food comes from and how to sustain themselves.

    I hope this might be a cause you would champion in your new role. Reintegrating gardening could cultivate healthier, more resilient, and more engaged future generations!

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    I know Nilani Shankar to be a caring young woman whose interests are varied. As a School Psychologist, she works tirelessly, committed to medical freedom and children and parental rights. As a concerned citizen, she
    is active in the political arena.

    She is honest and straight forward in her decisions and advice to concerned parents. Nilani will surely be an asset to the Department of Education or Department of Health & Human Services.

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    I have been serving our community with Dr. Shankar for several years. She is passionate, educated and a hard worker. She inspires others to educate themselves on current issues and to seek solutions. I believe Dr. Shankar would be an asset in whatever capacity she would serve.

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    I support Dr.Shankar. She is trustworthy, honest, hardworking, and comes with a lot of experience in education.

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    As a New Hampshire State Representative, I fully endorse Nilani for one of these positions.
    She is highly accomplished in the educational field, holding common sense views as opposed to the woke establishment currently dominating the sphere of government schools. She will be an asset to the incoming administration, with it’s overwhelming mandate for change. Her concerns for smaller, efficient government and individual freedom are exactly what is needed at this time.

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    I would welcome Nilani into any organization as an excellent asset. She is an intelligent, well experienced and strongly passionate professional with her extensive field of study. Nilani has a great compassion for children and their health. She has seen first hand the direct implications of toxic food choices leading to poor health which in turn leads to poor learning. Nilani has worked tirelessly to implement healthy changes in the current school system with no avail. We all know the systems are broken and will be fixed. Nilani would be an excellent asset in this endeavor and will bring “boots on the ground” insight to the movement. Nilani will work hard, be excited learning new things and will be a bright star for the future of our children.Nilani will be a pleasure to have on your team!