Ghazala Hashmi

Ghazala Hashmi

Biography

Ghazala is the first Muslim-American woman to serve in the Virginia State Senate.  In 2020 Hashimi was elected to the state Senate of Virginia after running for the Democrat party and defeated Glen Sturtevant, the Republican contender.   Ghazala grew up in a little town in Georgia and directly experienced how community-building and open dialogue can overcome cultural and socioeconomic divisions, bringing together people from many different backgrounds. Senator Hashmi's interest in public service is guided by integrity, social justice, and government ethics and she is committed to make the government work for all citizens by improving public education, implementing gun safety reforms, and protecting healthcare access.    Senator Hashmi serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Public Education and is a member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and sits on various Legislative Committees, such as Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee. Senator Hashimi has a long trajectory as a leading educator with 30 years of experience in Virginia's state university system. She was an English professor and the Founding Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CELT) at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.     Hashmi earned a B.A. from Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. Also, she holds a Ph.D. in English from Georgia Southern University, Statesboro. She was recognized and awarded for her diversity, inclusion, and multicultural enrichment as the CELT director.