Jenifer Rajkumar: Biography
Jenifer Rajkumar (born September 1, 1982) is an American politician, civil rights lawyer, and Democratic member of the New York State Assembly representing the 38th district. Her district covers the Queens neighborhoods of Glendale, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, and Woodhaven 1. In 2020, she became the first Indian-American woman ever elected to a New York State office, a distinction that also made her the first Hindu-American elected official in the state 2.
Early Life and Family
Rajkumar was born and raised in New York, the first generation of her family born in the United States. Her parents immigrated from India with limited resources, settling in Queens where they built their lives 3. Her mother was born in a rural village in India, and the family's immigrant experience has been a central element of Rajkumar's public identity and political narrative . She is a practicing Hindu .
Education
Rajkumar graduated from the University of Pennsylvania magna cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, where she received the Alice Paul Award for exemplary service to women and families 6. She earned her Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School with distinction for pro bono legal work on behalf of vulnerable individuals 7.
Legal Career
Before entering politics, Rajkumar practiced as a civil rights lawyer at a national law firm, focusing on class action cases on behalf of workers, tenants, and women. She was part of the legal team in Velez v. Novartis, a workplace gender discrimination case that the United Nations ranked among the top ten cases in the world advancing women's equality 8. She also collaborated with the U.S. Department of Justice on qui tam cases combating corporate fraud, with resulting settlements saving millions in taxpayer dollars 9.
Rajkumar worked as a fellow at the National Women's Law Center in Washington, D.C., advancing federal policy on women's equality and reproductive justice . She was selected to Super Lawyers' New York-Metro Rising Stars List in 2015 and 2016, a distinction awarded to no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in New York 11.
Government Service
Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Rajkumar as Director of Immigration Affairs and Special Counsel for New York State, working out of the Department of State and the Governor's executive chamber. In that role, she built and led the Liberty Defense Project, a first-in-the-nation $31 million state-led public-private initiative to provide immigrants with legal services 12.
Academic Career
Rajkumar served as an adjunct professor at the City University of New York's Lehman College, where she taught courses and mentored students 13.
Public Identity
Rajkumar is widely known as the Lady in Red for her signature practice of wearing red attire to public appearances and events. The moniker became a defining feature of her public persona throughout her political career .
Awards and Honors
Throughout her career, Rajkumar has received several recognitions, including the New York County Democratic Party's Bella Abzug Award, the WIN Young Women of Achievement Award, and a City and State 40 Under 40 Rising Star designation 15.