Joe Biden nominates Kashmir-origin Shefali Razdan as envoy to Netherlands

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US President Joe Biden has announced his intent 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 White House made the announcement on Friday along with several other key administrative and diplomatic positions.

Duggal, a mother of two, is an experienced political activist, women’s rights advocate and human rights campaigner, the White House said. She is a former Presidential Appointee to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Council and 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 is the 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 Biden, and as a Deputy National Finance Chair at the Democratic National Committee, the White House said.

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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