ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Ghazala Hashmi featured in Virginia women’s history exhibition
Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi is among the women highlighted in a new exhibition at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, which explores the role of women in shaping the state's history.
-
Ankita Baidya - Sat, 13, Jun 2026
- 05:05 EDT
- 39
Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi is featured in the "Remember the Ladies" exhibition / virginia.gov
Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi has been featured in the "Remember the Ladies" exhibition at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum in Staunton, Virginia. The exhibit highlights women who have shaped Virginia's history, spanning from the era of American independence to the present day.
Hashmi's inclusion in the exhibition centers on the kurta and dupatta she wore at her inauguration in January 2026- attire that reflected her South Asian heritage as she took office. The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library's own account of the exhibition notes that her choice of clothing "carried her heritage proudly into the room with her."
Also Read: Taste of India owner gets 33 months jail for SNAP fraud
The exhibition, formally titled "Remember the Ladies: Women's Dress and the Experience of American Independence, 1776- 2026," uses clothing as a lens through which to trace the history of women in American public life. It is scheduled to run for 18 months, with a rotation of new items and stories at the nine-month mark.
(1/2) I’m honored to be featured in the “Remember the Ladies” exhibit at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, which highlights the women who have shaped Virginia’s history and carries that story forward into the present.
— Lt. Governor Ghazala Hashmi (@ltgovhashmi) June 12, 2026
Hashmi took office in January 2026 as the first Muslim woman elected to statewide office anywhere in the United States, and the first Asian American elected to statewide office in Virginia. She defeated Republican candidate John Reid in the November 2025 general election. Her victory came six years after she first made history in 2019 as the first Muslim American woman elected to the Virginia State Senate.
Born in Hyderabad, India in 1964, Hashmi immigrated to the United States as a child when her father moved the family to Georgia. She earned a bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern University and a PhD in English from Emory University. Before entering politics, she spent more than two decades in higher education, including as a professor and founding director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Reynolds Community College in Richmond.
As Lieutenant Governor, Hashmi presides over the Virginia State Senate. The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum is located in Staunton, Virginia, the birthplace of President Woodrow Wilson.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login