I’m a North Carolina Native—I was born in Durham. My parents were originally from Bangladesh, and my dad moved here to go to college at Duke. My mom followed him halfway across the world and attended NC Central. My parents found community here and decided this was the place they wanted to build their family. They had my sister, and eventually I came around.​
University School of Law, where I focused on civil and human rights. I volunteered extensively with organizations combatting domestic violence and studied the intersection of human rights and mental health, which included research in Cambodia. After I graduated, I became a trial attorney, and later worked for the Social Security Administration, where I advocated for one of our country’s most important programs helping people in need. Next I clerked for a federal judge handling bankruptcy cases, and I witnessed first-hand the suffering of citizens buried in medical debt and the plight of farmers during an economic recession.
​When I was two years old, we moved to Raleigh, and my mom, sister and I entered the Wake County public school system. My mom was an assistant kindergarten teacher. I’m a proud product of our public schools—I started at Stough Elementary, attended Ligon Middle School, and went to Enloe for High School before heading to UNC Chapel Hill. I majored in political science, which included studying urban planning and economic development.
Growing up here instilled in me an enormous duty to help those around me. I spent a summer teaching elementary school in Ghana, and traveled around the state and country working on civil rights and community service projects. It was my foundation here that inspired me to become an attorney. I moved out of state and went to Fordham
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In New York, I was fortunate not only to do good work, but also to meet good people, most importantly my wife, Erin. I always wanted to settle back down in North Carolina, so after we got married, we did just that. We fell in love with Wake Forest because of its natural beauty, its character, and its friendly, welcoming people, and so we decided to plant our roots here (and adopt two puppies, Dorian and Sasha). As Commissioner, these are the very characteristics of Wake Forest I will seek to protect.
I continue working as attorney, and I also followed my mom’s footsteps by becoming a teacher. I’ve taught trial advocacy for the past ten years, first at Fordham, and now in Raleigh at Campbell. I also provide pro bono services to clients who need legal representation on social security, domestic violence, civil rights, and immigration matters. I volunteer my time helping and mentoring kids through the Wake County Juvenile Crime Prevent Council and Capital Area Teen Court, an organization that I’ve been working with for over 25 years. I have learned some of the most important parts of representing clients are not taught in law school at all: listening, respecting the needs and wants of others, and striving to understand their point of view. To truly be an advocate–to represent others effectively–compassion and respect are required.
That’s why, when I announced my run for Board of Commissioners, I made a promise: I’m not just asking you to support me, I’m asking you to let me support you. I will use my passion and experience to zealously advocate for my neighbors and make Wake Forest the best home that it can be for all of us.