Desis for Progress Celebrates Women’s History Month
DFP is celebrating 2021 Women’s History Month by honoring South Asian American women in public service. Each of the women we are featuring showcase the importance of representation in our communities, whether as elected officials, Congressional and Administration staff, or through their work in the public sector. We thank each of them for their dedication and hard work! Check back here for a new spotlight every Friday in March.
Priyanka K. Hooghan
Staff Director — Subcommittee on Environment
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
U.S. House of Representatives
Please briefly describe what you do in your current role.
As the Environment Subcommittee Staff Director, I am responsible for working with my staff, colleagues, and our Members to set and execute the agenda for the Subcommittee. This includes scoping hearings, writing and moving bills through the legislative process, engaging with stakeholders, and staffing Members for meetings, hearings, markups, and on the House floor. I also conduct oversight of the research and development activities at the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and federal climate change research and development activities broadly. My work requires me to have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, the ability to work under tight deadlines, and the ability to accurately distill complex technical or scientific information into a format that is easily understood by our Members.
What is the biggest challenge you face in this role, either generally or specifically as a South Asian woman?
There remains a dearth of diverse voices on Capitol Hill, and it is something that I am acutely aware of with every meeting I take. Whenever I look around and realize that I am one of the few, if not only, non-white voices in the (Zoom) room or at the table, it strengthens my resolve that I belong right where I am. It also reminds me how important it is to speak up whenever I find myself in those rooms or at those tables, and to push for my voice and my perspective to be heard, because it is just as important as everyone else’s.
What is one piece of advice you would give to Desi women who want to enter the world of public service?
As a Desi woman, don’t be afraid to take the career path less traveled. While it may initially be scary to pursue a field where you do not have as many obvious role models, if you are passionate about the work, you will find much more fulfillment from it than you would in a more “traditional” job.
Farrah N. Khan
Mayor, City of Irvine, CA
Please briefly describe what you do in your current role.
In my current role as Mayor for a major city in CA, my main job is to lead the city with my council colleagues making sure we’re providing the best in services and programs to our residents, businesses, and workers. We also set policies to improve the quality of life for all.
What is one piece of advice you would give to Desi women who want to enter the world of public service?
One piece of advice I would give to Desi women who want to enter the world of public service is believe in yourself and be confident with who you are because it will take others time to believe in you.
Radha Adhar
Deputy Associate Administrator
US Environmental Protection Agency
Please briefly describe what you do in your current role.
Every person deserves clean air and clean water but for far too many people, especially low income and communities of color, access to these basic rights remain out of reach. I am honored to serve as the Deputy Associate Administrator of Congressional Affairs at the US Environmental Protection Agency. As the head of Congressional Affairs, my responsibility is to ensure that Administrator Michael Regan works in partnership with Congress on delivering on our public health and environmental goals for these communities, and every community, across the country.
Who is one woman that you look up to who helped you get to where you are today?
I feel very lucky to have served in Senator Tammy Duckworth’s office for four years as her senior policy advisor on environmental issues. Working for her and with my colleagues was like being in a masterclass on what leadership looks like. Not only did I get a front-row seat on the importance of integrity in public service, she taught me that leaning in doesn’t mean putting your work above all else — that personal and professional balance is critically important and that taking your work seriously doesn’t mean you have to take yourself too seriously. I had both my children while working for her and feel very grateful that her voice- the voice of a young, working mom -- is in the room where it happens.
Krittika Ghosh
Executive Director
Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project
Please briefly describe what you do in your current role.
As the Executive Director of the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project, I help develop and implement the strategic planning for the organization that leads to program development, financial sustainability and focusing on key ways to end gender- based violence through our work. I also work with key stakeholders in the community and the GBV sector on advocacy and policy analysis and in ensuring the experiences of culturally specific agencies such as DVRP is highlighted in these spaces. I also represent DVRP in public spaces and speak about our work through trainings, workshops, panel discussions, and other forms of engagement. I currently manage a team of 8 brilliant staff members whose support and dedication to our mission makes our work possible.
What is the biggest challenge you face in this role, either generally or specifically as a South Asian woman?
I think that the lack of understanding that gender-based violence (GBV) occurs in all communities, due to enforcement of patriarchy and power and control and that it is manifest in different ways in different communities rather than it being specific to a particular “culture” is a big challenge in my work. I think the challenge is in dismantling the notion that GBV is specific to specific communities, including ours, which is a very racist notion, rather than it being looked upon as a systemic issue. This leads to there being a lack of funding for our work and the lack of understanding of the barriers that immigrant and refugee survivors experience due to our intersectional identities tied to xenophobia including racism, Islamophobia, classism, casteism, gender and sexual identity, ageism, and ableism among others.
Who is one woman that you look up to who helped you get to where you are today?
My paternal grandmother, Jaya Rani Ghosh who passed away 5 years ago, encouraged me from a very young age in my work focusing on ending GBV. Unlike many women of her generation, rather than speaking about traditional gender roles including marriage as my objective, she would encourage me to pursue my dreams including my work and also encourage my creative spirit through music and performance. Her energy flows through me and is a source of encouragement throughout my life.
What is one piece of advice you would give to Desi women who want to enter the world of public service?
I’d say that it’s okay to build your own path towards what you want to do in life rather than follow what is expected of you. There are many roads to public service and you will find your own unique way to it.
