By Arun Kumar

Washington, Nov 20 (IANS): President Barack Obama has nominated India-born Swati A. Dandekar, a Nagpur and Bombay University alum, to be United States director of the Asian Development Bank, with the rank of ambassador.

The nomination of Dandekar who will replace Robert M. Orr was announced by the White House along with eight other key Administration posts:

"I am confident that these experienced and hardworking individuals will help us tackle the important challenges facing America, and I am grateful for their service. I look forward to working with them," Obama said

Dandekar, who received a BS from Nagpur University and a Post-Graduate Diploma from Bombay University, is a former Iowa state legislator and member of the Iowa Utilities Board, according to her White House biography.

She served on the Iowa Utilities Board from 2011 to 2013. Prior to joining the Utilities Board, Dandekar served in the Iowa State Senate from 2009 to 2011 and in the Iowa State House of Representatives from 2002 to 2008.

From 2000 to 2003, she was a member of the Vision Iowa Board of Directors. Dandekar also served on the Linn-Mar Community School District Board of Education from 1996 to 2002 and was a member of the Iowa Association of School Boards from 2000 to 2002.