A Pakistani-American woman named Sadaf Jaffer has been sworn in as the mayor of the Montgomery Township, becoming the first South Asian-American woman mayor in New Jersey.
Jaffer was sworn in on January 3 and previously served as a Montgomery committeeperson. She has been a resident of the area of five years and was elected to the local council last year.
The new mayor is a scholar and activist. She has worked for the United States Marine Corps Centre for Advanced Operational Culture Learning and the US Department of State’s Bureau of South Asian Affairs.
She is currently a postdoctoral research associate in South Asian studies at Princeton University where she teaches courses on South Asian, Islamic and Asian American Studies.
Jaffer earned her bachelor’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University and obtained her PhD in near eastern languages and civilisations with a secondary field in studies of women, gender and sexuality from Harvard University.
As mayor Jaffer says she is ready to engage Montgomery residents in local governance and inspire a more connected, cohesive community. She will draw on the strength of Monty’s diversity as she represents her constituents, bringing practicality and vision her role.
“To me, Montgomery is all about the people that make up our vibrant community,” Jaffer said.
“I love attending local events, from the South Asian Charity Organization’s ‘Ootsave’ celebration to the strawberry festival hosted by the Boy Scouts”.
