State Representative Ismail Mohamed will share his personal journey coming to central Ohio from Somalia, his passion for education and the law and his dedication to public service in a presentation titled, “Importance of Civic Engagement” on Nov. 20 from 4 - 5 p.m. in 101 Hale Hall.
His keynote address is part of International Education Week, a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, which provides an opportunity to support international exchange and promote a broader understanding of world cultures. Ohio State joins thousands of other institutions worldwide participating in events that bring a global perspective to college campuses.
A graduate of Northland High School, Rep. Mohamed attended The Ohio State University and earned a bachelor’s in political science and a juris doctorate from the Moritz College of Law. He is the first Somali-American attorney to practice in the State of Ohio.
Rep. Mohamed started his own legal practice after law school where he specializes in personal injury, immigration and criminal, providing pro-bono assistance to indigent clients with various legal issues.
His career in public service includes serving on the North-Linden Area Commission and the Civilian Review Board before being elected as a state representative in the November 2022 general election. He and Munira Abdullahi are the first two Somali-American representatives in Ohio.
During his first term, Rep. Mohamed authored several pieces of legislation including minimum wage increase, marijuana expungement for minor misdemeanors, guaranteeing universal school lunches for all children regardless of ability to pay, recognizing June 20th as “World Refugee Advocacy Day.”
Rep. Mohamed’s platform is to address the issues of small business development, affordable housing, public safety and education.