Farah Pandith

Who is Farah Pandith?

Farah Pandith is the first ever Special Representative to Muslim Communities for the United States Department of State. She was appointed to this position on June 23, 2009 by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and sworn in by Secretary Clinton at a ceremony at the State Department on September 15, 2009.

Pandith is an American Muslim born in India who immigrated with her mother to Massachusetts on July 4, 1969. Prior to her current appointment, she was Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. This role was created for the first time in U.S. history. Pandith was responsible for engaging with Muslim communities in Europe.

From 2004 to 2007 Pandith worked at the National Security Council at the White House under Elliott Abrams covering a portfolio that included "Muslim engagement," countering violent extremism, and The Broader Middle East North Africa Initiative. She worked at the United States Agency for International Development from 2003 to 2004. She lived in Kabul, Afghanistan in the Spring of 2004. Before coming to government, Pandith was Vice President of International Business for ML Strategies, LLC, in Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to graduate school, she worked at USAID from 1990 to 1993.