Nilakshi Parndigamage ’06 named new Ezra Stiles dean

Alumna Nilakshi Parndigamage ’06 will serve as the next dean of Ezra Stiles, announced Yale College Dean Jonathan Holloway on May 5 to students during dinner.
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Nilakshi Parndigamage ’06 (center) with Head of Ezra Stiles College Stephen Pitti '91 and Yale College Dean Jonathan Holloway. (Photo by Román Castellanos-Monfil)

Alumna Nilakshi Parndigamage ’06 will serve as the next dean of Ezra Stiles, announced Yale College Dean Jonathan Holloway on May 5 to students during dinner.

“I am confident that she will make many significant and positive contributions to the life of the col­lege,” said Holloway to the packed dining hall. “Professor Pitti and I hope you will join us in welcoming her to Ezra Stiles.”

Originally from Sri Lanka, Parndigamage graduated from Yale with a B.A. in political science and earned her J.D. from the University of Virginia. During her time at Yale, she was involved with the Undergraduate Admissions Office, International Student Orientation, and the Indigo Blue Center for Buddhist Life at Yale. She received numerous awards and fellowships for her work, including the David Everett Chantler Award to a graduating senior exemplifying “the qualities of courage, strength of character, and high moral purpose,” and the Charles P. Howland Fellowship, and the European Union Studies Council Fellowship.

While at the University of Virginia, she was deeply engaged with issues of international law and human rights, and won the Monroe Leigh Public International Law Fellowship and the Class of 1957 South African Human Rights Fellowship. She will be returning to Yale from the firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, where she has worked as a litigation associate for the past five years.

“Among the many terrific things about this community over the years is the fact that we have had extraordinary deans in this college,” Head of Ezra Stiles Stephen Pitti said. “Of course, you know the excellence of Dean L and Dean Morgan. Dean Parndigamage will join a tremendous tradition of great ‘deaning’ in this college; providing terrific support, leadership, counsel, and guidance; and being a really fun part of this community.”

In her remarks to students, Parndigamage recalled that she often wondered if she “fit in” at Yale as an international student during her first weeks on campus. Instrumental to her transition was the support she received from the Trumbull College community, she said, calling it “one of her greatest gifts” during her time as an undergraduate, and she cited in particular the guidance from her head of college and dean. She added that she hopes she could provide the same level of support to students that she received.

“I am completely beyond thrilled and excited, and honored and humbled to be here today in front of you guys,” she said. “I’m excited by the opportunity to serve as your dean.”

Outside of work, Parndigamage is an enthusiastic creator and promoter of Sri Lankan cuisine, ranging from the spicy to the sweet, and describes herself as a “huge cricket fan” who is eager to introduce the game to Stilesians. She is also an experienced world traveler, having lived in Europe, South Africa, and America, and has visited 25 countries on six continents.

Parndigamage will move into Stiles this summer and will be joined by her husband, Patrick Lynch, a city planner from Cedar Rapids, Iowa; their 17-month-old son Gihan, described as “the latest, greatest, and smallest moose”; and their cat, Machang, Sinhala for “dude.”

Holloway thanked interim Dean Michelle Morgan for her service as she returns to her graduate studies as a Ph.D. candidate in American studies. Morgan took over from former dean Camille Lizarríbar after Lizarríbar was appointed as dean of student affairs and senior associate dean in Yale College earlier this year.

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