Marist is proud to announce that alumnus and technology entrepreneur Suresh Kothapalli '91MS has been elected to the College’s Board of Trustees.  Kothapalli attended his first board meeting as a trustee in May, after being elected at the board’s most recent meeting, in February.

“I am honored to join this group of distinguished men and women which has played such a vital role in leading Marist through a sustained period of tremendous growth,” Kothapalli said. “I look forward to working with my new board colleagues and contributing to the continued success of Marist, an institution that has played an important role in my own professional achievements.”  

Kothapalli is the CEO of iSpace, the El Segundo, Calif.-based company he founded in 2000 that specializes in information technology solutions and business process services for companies in the healthcare, entertainment, auto, and financial services industries.  The company has been recognized five times by Inc. magazine as one of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

“Suresh exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit and the technological and business acumen that characterize so many successful Marist graduates,” said Board of Trustees Chair Ellen Hancock, a longtime leading technology industry executive. “We look forward to welcoming him to the board and taking advantage of his great skills and intellect as we continue our work of making Marist one of the best institutions of higher education in the nation.”

Kothapalli earned a master’s in computer science and software development from Marist. He is a recipient of the Marist College Distinguished Alumni Medal, the highest award presented by the College to its graduates. It is given to graduates who exemplify the College’s ideals of excellence in education, the importance of community, and dedication to service. He received it in 2009, when he returned to campus to address the Graduate and Adult Commencement Ceremony.

“I am delighted that Suresh has agreed to join the Board of Trustees,” said Marist President Dennis Murray. “As an alumnus, Suresh has a deep appreciation for what makes Marist special, and I know that the College will benefit greatly from the leadership and knowledge that he has developed over the course of a very impressive career in a highly competitive industry.”

Kothapalli is one of three brothers to earn master’s degrees from Marist, including Rajesh Kothapalli ’92MS and Vinod Kottapalli ’94MS. Together, the brothers have been generous supporters of the College, most notably through a capital gift toward construction of the Hancock Center, which houses, among other departments and programs, the School of Computer Science & Mathematics.

Prior to founding iSpace, Kothapalli served as vice president and principal of D.P. Specialists, a Los Angeles-based IT services company, which he sold in 1999 to Metro, and also held technology consulting positions with IBM and the New York State Office of Mental Health. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Biria Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani, India.

Through iSpace, Kothapalli supports numerous causes in Southern California and India. These include: the Open Door Education Foundation, which works to increase the quality and quantity of college students who study technology; the Westside Center for Independent Living, which serves people with disabilities; STEM Advantage, which mentors, prepares and inspires young women and underserved communities to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM);and the Indian Cross and Round Table, through which iSpace has provided employee volunteers and donations to aid in flood relief, among other efforts.