SOAR’s Next Chapter: Announcing our new Executive Director, Sundal Ali

It is with great excitement that we announce Sundal Ali as the next Executive Director of South Asian SOAR.

Following a thoughtful and extensive national search with leaders across the gender-based violence and social justice movements, we are proud to welcome Sundal, a deeply respected survivor advocate, coalition builder, and leader who will guide SOAR into its next era.  

At a critical moment for gender justice movements and culturally specific organizations, Sundal brings more than a decade of experience advancing support for survivors of sexual violence, strengthening prevention efforts, and leading equity-centered change across communities, including her current service as the Board President for the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault. Her leadership is grounded in deep collaboration, systems change, and a commitment to belonging, values that have long been at the heart of SOAR’s mission and work. 

Sundal is the leader this moment calls for. Through her leadership, SOAR will continue strengthening its role as a national voice for South Asian survivors and survivor-serving organizations while deepening its commitment to collective care, movement-building, and community-driven change.

“I am honored to join SOAR and know firsthand the importance of this work. As a former case manager, program director, and hotline worker, I understand what it means to be a lifeline for South Asian survivors navigating systems not built for them. SOAR is a true sanctuary and resource for the organizations dedicated to serving our community. My commitment is to ensure our voices are heard nationally so that survivors are not only visible, but also heard, connected, and mobilized. Together, we will build a future free of violence.”

As we celebrate this new chapter, we also want to recognize and honor Amrita Doshi, SOAR’s co-founder and first Executive Director, whose visionary leadership helped build SOAR into the national force it is today. 

Under Amrita’s leadership, SOAR evolved from a bold vision into a nationally recognized network of more than 50 member organizations collectively working to strengthen culturally specific responses to gender-based violence, shift narratives, and build collective power across the field. She led the organization in convening three annual National Summits and publishing groundbreaking national reports, including Together We Rise and State of the Field, elevating the realities, needs, and leadership of South Asian communities impacted by violence. Through Their Light Remains and the Sanctuaries Anthology, she created powerful platforms for survivor storytelling, community healing, and cultural change. She continually championed the growth, sustainability, and collective power of the field — mobilizing partnerships, resources, and national visibility to meet emerging needs, including through the creation of the first-of-its-kind Murmurations Movement Fund, which raised and regranted $50,000 to directly support South Asian survivor-serving organizations in a time of great need.

We are deeply grateful for the many ways Amrita helped build SOAR’s foundation with heart, humility, strategic clarity, and a bold vision. We are also grateful that she will continue supporting SOAR as a strategic advisor, and know that her leadership and impact will continue to be deeply felt across the movement to end gender-based violence.

This next chapter has been shaped by the leadership and care of many in our community. We extend heartfelt gratitude to our Transition Director, Niketa Sheth, as well as our Board Members Aparna Bhattacharyya and Navneet Bhalla, for guiding SOAR through this transition with thoughtful stewardship, strategic vision, and care. We also want to thank the Transition Team, Executive Director Search Committee, and Growth Council for their volunteer efforts and partnership.

Looking ahead, SOAR will continue deepening and growing its programs, partnerships, and collective work and voice.  Our work will be supported by our Board, newly launched Advisory Council, and our Growth Council—click here if you are interested in learning more about these groups or getting involved.  We look forward to continuing our collective work to transform the culture and systems that lead to gender-based violence, and we are grateful to have you by our side.