Commissioner Lalita Uppala moved to Seattle, WA in 1990 pursuing a degree in public health (environmental toxicology) at the University of Washington. Lalita and her husband, with their two children, have made Bellevue, WA their home for the past 28 years. Following a short stint in toxicology consulting, Lalita stayed home to raise her children, volunteered in school PTSAs and the Asian Indian community organizations before joining the India Association of Western Washington board in 2007.
Lalita has served on the IAWW board in several capacities as a volunteer, Secretary, Youth Program Director, President, and currently Community Program Director and Vice President for the organization. As an IAWW board member, Lalita works on advocacy and outreach to identify and address needs of the Asian Indian community of Western Washington. Additionally, Lalita is a Trustee with the King County Library System Board of Trustees and is an ardent advocate of libraries becoming the hub of a community providing knowledge, education, awareness and connections. Lalita also sits on the board of South Asian Americans Together for Washington (SAATWA), an organization that IAWW recently established to escalate civic engagement among South Asian communities and increase representation of South Asians in the state leadership.
Lalita is looking forward to joining the Commission on Asia Pacific American Affairs and hopes to amplify her advocacy efforts and bring the South Asian voice to CAPAA while ensuring South Asian communities stay informed and aware.