Washington: President Barack Obama has appointed Shefali Razdan Duggal, a top Indian-American fundraiser for his presidential campaign in 2008 and 2012, as the member of the US Holocaust Memorial Council. An announcement by Obama in this regard came yesterday along with several other ambassadorial and administration posts. "The extraordinary dedication these men and women bring to their new roles will greatly serve the American people. I am grateful they have agreed to serve in this administration and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come," Obama said.

California-based Duggal had helped raise several millions of dollars for Obama for his presidential election campaigns. The United States Holocaust Memorial Council was established by Congress in 1980 to lead the nation in commemorating the Holocaust and to raise private funds for and build the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The council which meets twice a year consists of 55 members appointed by the President as well as five members each from the Senate and House of representatives and three ex-officio members from the Departments of Education, Interior and State. Presidential appointments serve for a five-year term, 11 members terms expire each year.

Duggal is a member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), National Finance Committee and is the National Co-Chair for the DNC Women's Leadership Forum. She was also a member of the 2012 Obama for America National Finance Committee, a Co-Chair for Obama Victory Trustees, and a member of the Northern California Finance Committee. She has received a Bachelor of Science degree from Miami University of Ohio and Masters from New York University.