Why President-Elect Biden’s Administration Picks Matter to a Young Muslim Woman from Kentucky
By Iman Ali
MPAC

On my first day of work, I asked my boss if anyone had allergies in the office because I wanted to bake brownies for my new colleagues. As a woman raised in the sweetest state in the south, Kentucky, food had always been a great way to build relationships. With an eyebrow raised and concerned yet advising tone, my boss encouraged me to refrain from bringing in the brownies because, in her words, “Nice girls don’t get the corner office.”

Her words stuck with me as I navigated my way through the field of policy, a space overrepresented by men with a bad reputation for cliques or, as they say in Government, “partisanship.” As I started to gain more experience and influence in DC I was always pleased to meet other motivated and driven women working in Politics. Even when different from my own beliefs, I found their perspectives to be centered in forward and inclusive thinking. These women were actively fighting to end the underrepresentation of women and archaic norms of office life by boldly pursuing their dreams. In fact, I probably owe plenty of thanks to these women (some of whom I never even met) who helped pave a path for me to serve as the Policy and Programming Coordinator for  MPAC , and, one day, a member of Congress.

But one name stands out more than the rest in shaping my understanding of the good that Government is capable of, and that is  Reema Dodin

I first met Reema in 2018, when she was a guest speaker at my summer fellowship program. Our cohort was a small group, which allowed us a healthy amount of time asking Reema questions about her work in the office of Minority Whip Senator Richard Durbin, where she worked for nearly a decade. She shared stories from her experience in law school, time as a research director on Capitol Hill, and how her persistence led her role at the time — floor director for the Minority Whip. Within a short time after our conversation, Reema was again promoted to serve as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Senator.

In my eyes, Reema is a superstar — strong in her convictions, yet kind in her communication. She took our questions with thoughtful consideration. That night she made the whole room feel more optimistic about our future and more confident in the role we should play in it. We sat quietly, as she eloquently reminded us to take pride in our identity and remain steadfast in our service of others.

“Who made the brownies? They’re delicious.”  Reema asked.

I shyly put up my hand, and with my newly attained attention, I used the opportunity to ask her,  “How do I know where I fit in?” alluding to the heavy question of party affiliation that had been on my mind. To be honest, the question did not even make sense to me when I asked it, but Reema gave an excellent response. “You have to know who you are.”

In her simple response, I realized that it was women like Reema who broke the molds we (women, people of color, Muslims, minorities, etc.) had previously been forced to fit into. She taught me that I could bake brownies and enjoy them too.

This week, as I parsed through the news about the latest additions to President-Elect Biden’s Administration, I was pleased to see Reema’s name slated to serve as the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. Reema has a consistent track record of sound decision making; her persistence to ensure a job is well done can be seen in all the projects she has tackled in her decade of service on Capitol Hill.

But aside from her qualifications, it is incredibly uplifting to see a Muslim woman’s voice being heralded with such regard in crafting what the President-elect Bidens’s A-team. For so many women who are told we must fight our way to the top, we can disavow any advice to be ruthless by remembering Reema as an example. Though incredibly busy, she always made time to give advice. She has always been firm in her values, yet she gave others respect in times of negotiation. And lastly, in times of stress, she lifted others as she rose — a quality that perfectly embodies how much of a team player and worthy leader she is.

If nothing else, Reema’s nomination proves that diligent hard work and the courage to be your whole self should not only be accepted but rewarded in this world. Her new role leaves me hopeful that the administration will be filled with those who also celebrate diversity, inclusion, and optimism for our global community’s future.

As I continue to be the nice girl in policy, I recognize that I need not limit myself to only viewing success as a corner office. Instead, I’ll follow the path that women like Reema have helped pave for me — all the way to the White House, brownies in hand.