Rashad Hussain

About Rashad Hussain

RASHAD HUSSAIN is an attorney and US Special Envoy to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Washinngton, DC.

His parents are naturalized citizens from India and live in Plano, Texas.

Rashad earned his JD from Yale University and his MPA from Harvard University. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, he holds bachelor's degrees with highest distinction in both philosophy and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which he completed in two years. He received highest honors for his philosophy thesis, "Assessing the Theistic Implications of Big Bang Cosmological Theory." Rashad also holds an MA from Harvard University in Near Eastern languages and civilizations.

Rashad finds his heritage central to his identity as a Muslim American and his career goals, especially in light of events in recent history. Rashad has worked extensively on Capitol Hill, both as an intern in the office of former House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt during the summer of 2000 and as a legislative aide on the House Judiciary Committee, where he worked for a year and a half between his time at Harvard University and Yale University. Following graduation from law school, he finished a clerkship for Judge Damon Keith on the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Detroit, MI and was a Trial Attorney at the US Department of Justice.

Rashad sees his varied academic interests converging and feels that his study of international affairs, law, and security can form a salient combination for addressing many contemporary legal and public policy issues. In February 2010, Rashad was appointed by President Barack Obama to be the U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.