Biden nominates Indian-origin activist Shefali Razdan as envoy to Netherlands

An immigrant to the US from Kashmir, Duggal, 50, has been raised in Cincinnati, Chicago, New York and Boston

US President Joe Biden has announced his intention to nominate Indian-origin political activist Shefali Razdan Duggal as his envoy to the Netherlands, according to the White House.

An immigrant to the US from Kashmir, Duggal, 50, has been raised in Cincinnati, Chicago, New York and Boston.

The announcement was made on Friday, March 11, by the White House. The announcement forms part of several other key administrative and diplomatic positions made recently. 

A mother of two, Duggal  is an experienced political activist, women’s rights advocate and human rights campaigner, the White House said.

Formerly a presidential Appointee to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Counciland, she continues to serve as a Western Regional Advisor.

Duggal is a San Francisco Committee member of Human Rights Watch, a member of the Wake Forest University Leadership and Character Council, and served on the National Board of Directors for Emily’s List.

She received an MA in Political Communication from New York University. She also studied Mass Communication at Miami University.

Duggal, a Kashmiri Pandit, was born in Haridwar, Uttar Pradesh, and moved with her family to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at age two. She then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio at age five, where she grew up and graduated from Sycamore High School. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication from Miami University of Ohio.

Duggal is a San Francisco Committee member of Human Rights Watch, a member of the Wake Forest University Leadership and Character Council, and served on the National Board of Directors for Emily’s List.

Duggal is a recipient of numerous civic awards, including being recognised with the Western Regional Leadership Award by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, as a Community Hero by the California State Assembly, and as one of the Most Powerful Women in California by the National Diversity Council.

She served as National Co-Chair of Women for Joe Biden, and as a Deputy National Finance Chair at the Democratic National Committee, the White House said.

Ms Duggal had been active in Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential campaign and had also been associated with Hillary Clinton’s Presidential campaign where she was a member of her campaign’s Northern California Steering Committee and the Women for Hillary Committee.
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