Speaking Up to Break Away from Racial & Ethnic Stereotypes

What

NIDCR joins NIH’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in kicking off Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Heritage Month with a virtual conversation with actor Utkarsh Ambudkar on Tuesday May 3, 2022, from 12 pm to 1 pm ET. NIDCR Director Rena D’Souza, DDS, PhD, will provide opening remarks.

This event is co-sponsored by the NIH Federation of AA and NHPI Network (FAN) and the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE).

Utkarsh Ambudkar, an Asian American actor best known for his roles in action-comedy Free Guy (2021), the new hit sitcom Ghosts, and true story-based miniseries The Dropout, will share how he spoke up and broke away from racial and ethnic stereotypes. Along with his mother, NIDCR senior investigator Indu Ambudkar, PhD, MSc, Utkarsh Ambudkar will discuss his experience growing up in a STEM-focused family, how he decided to pursue his passion, as well as diversity and inclusion in Hollywood and beyond.

The conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A.

Who

Rena D’Souza, DDS, MS, PhD
Director
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH

Utkarsh Ambudkar
Actor

Indu Ambudkar, PhD, MSc
Senior Investigator
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH

Caroline Goon, MS, MBA
Principal Strategist
Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, NIH

Franklin Ning
Co-Chair
Graduate Student Council, NIH

How to Join