Meet Our Teachers
GAMA Malayalam Academy is proud to feature a team of dedicated, passionate educators committed to keeping our heritage and language alive for the next generation.
Arun Venugopal
Calling both Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin as homes, feels lucky to grown up with different styles of മലയാളം. Suwanee resident with his better half Devaky, and two kids Neil and Niam. Loves spending time with the GAMA malayalam academy and hoping to make a difference.
Bhavya Sudarsan
A native of Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, was born and raised in the region. She has professional experience in both education and the software/IT industry. She is currently based in Dunwoody, Georgia, where she resides with her husband and son. Driven by a strong passion for education, she actively volunteers with the GAMA Malayalam Academy Classroom, where her interactions with young learners continually inspire creativity and enthusiasm.
Bindu Vijayan Pillai
Is from Pandalam in Kerala. Spent her college years in Mavelikkara. She is a home maker and lives with her husband Anilkumar and two kids, Anagha and Ayanna. She is passionate about teaching and enjoys music.
Devi Gopalakrishanan Nair
Is a native of Muvapattupuzha, Ernakullam. She has the professional experience of working as a teacher, which she did for five years, and is presently working as a software engineer at UST global. Devi is currently based in Hamilton Buford, Georgia, and living with her husband and two daughters. She was living in Virginia for around 8 years before moving to Georgia three years ago.
Jishnu Kurunthala
Originally from Payyanur in Kerala, spent his college years and the early part of his career in Ernakulam. He currently works as a software engineer at The Home Depot. Before settling in the Atlanta area, Jishnu lived in several cities across the United States. Jishnu now lives in Buford, near Atlanta, with his wife Aparna and their daughter Nitara. Outside of work, he is passionate about traveling, enjoys watching movies and TV series, and is an avid cricket fan.
Jissy Varghese
Is originally from Ankamaly, Kerala, and completed her education across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. She brings over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, demonstrating strong expertise and dedication in her field. She lives happily with her son, Tom. Deeply passionate about teaching, she enjoys engaging with children and values spending meaningful time with them.
Keerthi Pradeep
A native of Trivandrum, Kerala – later settled in Bangalore, India, before relocating to Atlanta in 2024. Currently based in Alpharetta, GA, she works as a Technical Recruiter and lives with her husband, Pradeep, and their two children, Vibhav and Vaishvi. Keerthi’s passion for singing, dancing, and teaching is what led her to volunteer for the GAMA Malayalam club.
Lalini Vattakatt
From the tech halls of Infosys and Ernst & Young to the heart of the Malayalam classroom, Lalini believes that our traditions are the anchors that keep us grounded. Though her roots are in Thrissur, born and raised outside Kerala— Lalini gained fluency in Malayalam through the dedication of her family – a journey that proved to her that our heritage is a “portable home”. Now living in Georgia, with her husband and 2 kids.
Mallika Das
Was born and raised in Chennai; her parents are from the Malabar region of Kerala. She grew up speaking only in Malayalam at home and also studied it at school and university levels. After moving to Canada in the late 1970s, she completed her MBA and Ph.D. in Marketing, and worked for 40+ years as a professor. At present, she lives in Atlanta with her daughter and family. Teaching has always been her passion.
Salini Shajeev
Originally from Kollam, Kerala, and holds a Master of Computer Applications (MCA) degree. She began her career as a teacher in India before relocating to the United States in 2002, and has since been a long-time resident of Georgia.With over two decades of experience in the IT industry, Salini Shajeev has built a strong and versatile professional career across various roles. Despite this transition, her passion for education has remained a constant.She continues to stay actively involved in the community through volunteer work, serving as a teacher at Balavihar and contributing to Malayalam learning through creative initiatives such as theatrical skits and singing performances.
Suja Kockuvayil
From the historic place of Kodungallur in Kerala. She finished her graduation from the University of Calicut. Has worked as an IT Professional and a Montessori Teacher. As a Licensed Financial Professional, she is very passionate about educating and helping families and businesses on their financial planning. She lives in Cumming with her husband and daughter.
Vidhya Vinesh
Is originally from Kasaragod, Kerala. She holds a Master’s degree from Mangalore and began her professional career as an HR Associate in Bangalore. In 2014, she relocated to the United States, where she initially resided in Michigan before moving to Cumming, Georgia, in 2020. She currently serves as an Assistant Teacher in the Atlanta area, where she is dedicated to supporting the academic and developmental growth of children.
