Katie Cassetta, President

During college, Katie volunteered at an orphanage in Nepal where she met Prakash Ojha. Years later, Prakash started the nonprofit that would become Ascend Nepal and in 2014, asked Katie to partner with him on the organization’s first water pipeline. Today, she oversees most aspects of operations for Ascend.

Katie is also an Associate Director at the Aspen Institute.

Nicole Mason, Vice President

Nicole is a Professional Civil Engineer with an insatiable thirst to explore and support the international community. She was in Myanmar when the 2015 earthquakes hit Nepal, and through the power of social media, connected with the Ascend team and joined relief efforts on the ground. Today she specializes in project development, and manages the technical aspects of the water projects.

Nicole is also a program manager for the National Park Service.

Sanju Poudel, President in Nepal

Prakash Ojha, Founder in Nepal

Sean Robison

Sean is a mountaineer, surfer, traveler, and musician with a professional background in restaurant management. He is a co-founder of Ascend, and was on the team’s first trip to Nepal after the earthquake during which he helped launch a shelter building project that would house 600 people.

Sean is also the Chief Operating Officer of Infinite Hospitality.

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