Our Team

Ulugbek Kasimov is the founder and president of Vatandosh Connect, a U.S.–Uzbek diaspora nonprofit that builds partnerships between international institutions and communities in Uzbekistan to support education, research, and social development. He has led collaborations with organizations such as UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, the University of Connecticut, and the Colorado School of Mines to implement projects ranging from autism diagnostic training and women’s entrepreneurship to public budget transparency initiatives.

Karl Bruce is a senior executive with more than 30 years of experience building and managing information services organizations that improve operational performance through technology and strategic partnerships. He brings deep expertise in IT strategy, supply chain integration, and organizational leadership to support Vatandosh Connect’s mission and institutional development.

Dr. Vasila Sattarovna Alimova is the Director of the Republican Center for the Social Adaptation of Children in Uzbekistan and a medical doctor with a PhD in medical sciences specializing in child development and social protection. With more than 20 years of experience, she leads national initiatives supporting children with developmental disorders and vulnerable families and has contributed to numerous research projects and public policy efforts related to child welfare and social services.

Zumrad Masar Ahmedjanova, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CCS, is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with nearly two decades of experience in mental health and addiction counseling. She specializes in trauma, relationships, and life transitions, integrating psychodynamic, somatic, and mindfulness-based approaches to support individual and family wellbeing.