Author: ambarry

Mayor Jaffer, elected to office in 2017, is the first Muslim woman to serve as mayor in the United States. During our conversation with the Mayor, she discussed the importance of diverse individuals and members of marginalized communities taking space not just as advocates, but also as decision-makers with the power to enact change. She noted the role that her identity played in her experience in politics, recounting personal experiences of racism, sexism, and Islamophobia during her time in office. While she is excited to be a role model for young women, who see that they, too, can assume leadership roles, Mayor Jaffer also hopes to normalize the idea that women, Muslims, and people of color like herself can become elected officials. She says that, ultimately, she hopes to be a representative for all of her constituents, despite differences that may exist in experience, ideology, or background.

Mayor Jaffer is also a Research Associate and Lecturer at the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies. She mentioned how her background in research has led her to advocate for evidence-based solutions to societal issues during her time at the Montgomery Township Committee.