“I want to give a voice to the voiceless.” Those were the words of Seema Singh, New Jersey’s newly-appointed Public Advocate, the first Indian ever to hold a cabinet post in the state’s government. When asked what advice she might have for other Indians striving to reach high government positions, she replied: “Go for it. I’ve broken the ice, especially for Indian women.”

Biography

Seema Singh received her bachelor’s in zoology from Calcutta University in 1983.. She received a bachelor’s degree in business from Rutgers University in 1988, where she was also the recipient of the William A. Raimond Award for the highest GPA in the School of Business. She received her law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1995

Born of Punjabi parents, Singh was raised in Asansol in West Bengal. ‘‘I never wanted to take up the sciences, but I did it to please my parents,’’ says Singh, speaking of her zoology degree from Calcutta University. Her sister Kiran, a teacher, brought her to New Jersey.

Seema Singh, 40, is originally from Asansol, West Bengal, and worked as a lawyer in the Litigation and International Law Department of Pepper Hamilton, LLP. Her practice was primarily in the areas of international and domestic litigation, mediation and arbitration, including commercial contracts.

Singh is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and Princeton Bar Association. She is a founding member of both the Hindu International Council Against Defamation and the Asian Indian Women’s Association. Singh also serves on the Legal Committee Council with the Federation of Indian Associations and on the board of directors of the Delaware Valley Girl Scouts. She is vice president of the Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce and is active in the Mercer County Inns of Court.

“The U.S. is a good country,” she said. “With the commitment, hard work and loyalty we Indians have, we can achieve anything we set out to do.” Asked what advice she might have for other Indians striving to reach lofty government positions, she replied: “Go for it. I’ve broken the ice, especially for Indian women.”

Singh added that McGreevey visited India a few years ago and went to the Golden Temple in Amritsar and the Somnath Temple in Gujarat.

“He gifted me a model of the Golden Temple last Christmas,” recalled Singh.