Eddy N. Sandjaja
Eddy N. Sandjaja is co-founder and president director of Nusantara Foundation. Mr. Sandjaja has been a professor of Indonesian, Javanese, and Malaysian languages and culture. At the same time, Mr. Sandjaja has been teaching English as a second language to adult immigrants, as well as co-founder of The Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School. Mr. Sandjaja came to the US to become an assistant professor at Ohio University and pursuing a double master in Linguistics and International Affairs. Aside from the two master degrees he also received a master in English Literature. His love of Indonesian culture landed him a job at the Embassy of Indonesia as assistant to the Educational and Cultural Attaché.
As a choreographer, coordinator, and a dance teacher, Mr. Sandjaja has performed extensively in the U.S. His expertise has brought him to various stages such as the Kennedy Center, the barn at Wolf trap, and the Smithsonian Institute. He has mastered several languages including Javanese, Indonesian, Malaysian, English, French, as well as Spanish, with knowledge of Dutch, German, and Chinese.
Mr. Sandjaja has been very active in the Indonesian American Community, he is the secretary general of the Indonesian American Association, affectionately known as IKI, and he has several times been the vice president of the Indonesian Catholic Community. As a language and cultural instructor at the Foreign Service institute, department of state, Mr. Sandjaja has produced the fast course in Malaysian language. At the Johns Hopkins Center for International Studies, professor Sandjaja has served as in ad interim for the head of the south east Asia department as well as teaching Indonesian Language and Culture. As co-founder of the Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, Mr. Sandjaja has served in among others as the first evening director, the director of IT and the director of student assessment.
Mr. Sandjaja is also a proponent of mediation through culture, peaceful solution to problems, and transparency. His knowledge of Indonesian and English has helped the World Bank in translating among other things their annual reports, mission and visions as well as their goals.
Irawan Nugroho
Irawan Nugroho is a member of board of directors at Nusantara Foundation. He is a foreign correspondent for Indonesian daily newspaper “Seputar Indonesia” in Washington and works also as an Indonesian interpreter for US State Department for international visitor leadership programs. He was the chairman of Indonesian American Association (IKI) and has been active in the various Indonesian cultural events in Washington, DC.
With his extensive networking, he serves as the Outreach Director to promote and develop the Nusantara Foundation. He also helps to build relationship with various cultural organizations and business entities.
He holds a BA degree in English literature, and linguistic from the “University of Sebelas Maret” in Surakarta, Central Jave, Indonesia. He has also attended the journalism program at University of Alabama.
Priyo Pujiwasono
Priyo Pujiwasono is a co-founder and Director of Education for Nusantara Foundation. He has lived and attended colleges in Central Java, Jogjakarta and Bandung, West Java. He is very familiar with Sundanese and Javanese culture for he has studied Javanese traditional dances.
He has served for the Indonesian government from 1993-1997. He has attended George Washington University in Washington, DC for his masters and doctorate degrees. His expertise is in economic development. He is also an avid audience of cultural performances such as the ones performed at Kennedy Center, Broadway theatre, and the Indonesian Embassy.
Agus Wong
Agus Wong is a co-founder, Director of Technology, and Secretary. He has 10+ years of IT experiences, and gives Nusantara Foundation solutions to its technology, website, and strategic planning. Agus is a multi-cultural and multi-lingual individual.
He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics Engineering from “Satya Wacana” Christian University, Salatiga, Indonesia. He has been selected and participated in an East Asia Student Encounter (EASE) Program, a two-week multicultural exchange program between Satya Wacana Christian University and Kwansei Gakuin University, Nishinomiya, Japan. This program has made him more aware and observant about the richness of Indonesian culture.
He teaches courses such as “Google Mania – What can Google do for you – for free?” and “How to Organize, Edit, Share & Sell Your Digital Photos” in First Class Inc., a Washington, DC based independently owned non-profit lifelong learning program. He is also a certified teacher for T’ai Chi Chih, a ‘moving meditation’.
Irwan Rosyadi
Irwan Rosyadi is a co-founder and the facility management director of Nusantara Foundation. Mr. Rosyadi was born into an activist family. He has been mostly active to defend the responsibility and rights of people.
His extensive background in facilitating and managing small and large events have landed him a profession that he loves. His experiences include concerts that involve International and National artists, and have brought him to many different parts of the world, such as the Indonesian cities, European countries and US states. Bands that he has handled among other things are “Krakatau”, “Gigi”, “Dwiki Dharmawan”, and “Padi” from Indonesia.
With his experiences he serves well at the Nusantara Foundation as the director of facility management. The foundation relies on his judgement to find venues for performances to guarantee success. His tenacity and focus produce many such events as the celebration of the Indonesian Independent Day, the Cherry Blossom festival, and the many celebrations at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia.
Supri Yono
Supri Yono is a co-founder and Director of Public Relations and Communication. He is also a reporter, a cameraman and a broadcaster for Voice of America (VOA) Indonesian section. He is a member of the Indonesian Embassy Gamelan Ensemble.
Supri has a strong background as a journalist. In the Indonesian American Association (IKI), he serves as the Directory of Warta IKI, a community media for the association. His vast experiences and great insights on mass media makes him suitable for the position as Director of Public Relations and Communications.
Endang Isnaini Saptorini
Endang Isnaini Saptorini is a co-founder, Treasurer, and Director of Business Development and Marketing. She is also known as Rinni Ray. Her name reflects her exuberant and shinning personality. Rinni hails from Semarang, the capital city of Central Java Province. She was born in a family who loves music. She has started to get involved in radio broadcasting since she was 15. She has worked as a reporter and radio broadcaster for “Suara Sakti” in Semarang and “Mustang FM” in Jakarta. The radio world introduces her to a better perspective of her audience, and makes her understand on how to organize events for wide range of audience.
Her experiences in a Production House and some Advertising Agencies in Jakarta has added her maturity in her career. She works as a journalist for Detik.com, an Indonesian online media. Rinni is also active in many activities for Indonesian community in Washington, DC, such as traditional and pop music activities. She plays traditional music instruments from Indonesia, such as angklung, kolintang, saron, and bonang. She enjoys to be a member of Javanese Gamelan Ensemble at the Embassy of Indonesia. Her voice can be heard in many of the informal and formal Indonesian community gatherings. Her love of music gives the ideletable impressions among the Indonesian and International audiences.
M. Afdal
Afdal is a co-founder and Director of Cultural and Special Events. He is an expert in classical “Minang Kabau” culture of Western Sumatra, Indoneisa. He has performed Minang traditional dances since he was young. He was a former member of the Syofyani Ensemble, an ensemble specialized in classical “Minang Kabau” culture.
Since his move to the USA in 1999, he is actively involved in introducing Minang Culture both among the Indonesian and the American public. In mid-2007, Afdal and his wife, Nani, founded a Minang dance and music art group called “Rumah Gadang Group – USA”, a non-profit organization based in Arlington, VA. Their son, Aldo, and daughter, Ayla Lawindo, perform for “Rumah Gadang Group”.