Research & Public Service Manager, University of Georgia
Class of ’19 | Board Position: Member
Nipuna Ambanpola serves as the Research & Public Service Manager at the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia where he provides institutional and client-related data strategy, management, and evaluation services. Prior to Fanning, Nipuna built and scaled a global tech start up for 8 years, which resulted in acquisition. Nipuna has led global social impact initiatives with the United Nations, International Research and Exchange Board, and various other organizations in tech, energy, and nonprofit industries.
Nipuna earned his undergraduate degree in Economics at Georgia Southern University and Masters in Public Administration and a Masters in Business Analytics at the University of Georgia. While at Georgia Southern, Nipuna was a Resident Advisor and also found multiple student organizations. Nipuna was the Student Government Association President during the Armstrong-Georgia Southern Consolidation and served on the Consolidation Implementation Committee and many high level task and search committees. Nipuna was awarded the Outstanding Leadership Service Award (2016), Nick Mamalaki’s Outstanding Eagle Award (2019), Georgia Southern 40 Under 40 (2024) and was inducted to the Campus Museum of Honorees for Service (2024). Before joining the University Alumni Board, Nipuna served in the University Young Alumni Board and Parker College of Business Young Alumni Board.
Nipuna is a Paul Harris Fellow, Will Watt Fellow, TEDx speaker, and served on the Civil Society Youth Steering Committee at the United Nations Department of Global Communications.
Nipuna and his wife Karen (also a Georgia Southern graduate) live in Athens, Georgia and pursue careers and interests grounded in public service.