Sharmeen Khan joins Biden campaign as Deputy Research Director

Sharmeen Khan,  a Pakistani American, previously worked for Biden’s PAC, American Possibilities.

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Pakistani American Sharmeen Khan has been named the Deputy Research Director for former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. She joins a growing number of South Asian Americans to be part of the 2020 presidential campaigns.

The Biden campaign’s hiring of Khan, who is from Louisville, Kentucky, doesn’t come as a surprise. Her last job was as a research associate at the American Possibilities PAC, a political action committee launched by Biden in 2017. She worked with the group from July 2018, till last month.

Prior to that, Khan has worked for a number of pro-Democratic groups and organizations.

During 2017-2018, she served as a research analyst at Democracy Forward, a liberal advocacy group whose mission is to help expose corruption within the Trump administration.

Khan also has some campaign experience, having interned for the Hillary campaign in 2016 and the 2014 gubernatorial campaign on Andrew Cuomo.

ALSO READ: Faiz Shakir: Finally, a South Asian American at the helm of a presidential campaign (February 20, 2019)

She interned at the US Department of Commerce from June 2017 to August 2017, as part of the Washington Leadership Program’s fellowship program.

“HUGE shout out to WLPAlum @sharkhan95 – named Deputy Research Director for @JoeBiden’s presidential campaign – great to see more #SouthAsian women in leadership positions on campaigns,” the WLP tweeted.

The WLP is a non-profit that aims to develop the next generation of American leadership from the South Asian community.

“The WLP family is so strong and passionate about change @sharkhan95 is one of our brightest and most genuine scholars. I am excited for her and hope to see more Desi women move into leadership positions on campaigns,” tweeted Harin Contractor, a member of WLP’s executive board.

Khan’s appointment is also interesting as Biden is seen among one of the more favorable candidates by a large number of South Asian Americans.

Khan earned her undergraduate degree from New York University, where she studied political science and government. She completed Oldham County High School and South Oldham High School.

She is the second Pakistani American to join a presidential campaign this year. In February, Sen. Bernie Sanders named Faiz Shakir as his campaign manager.