Sadaf Jaffer is an American academic and politician who has made significant contributions in both spheres, specializing in Islamic, South Asian, and gender studies. She has served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University and taught courses in South Asian, Islamic, and Asian-American studies and served two terms as the mayor of Montgomery Township, New Jersey. As mayor, she oversaw initiatives including crisis communication, building a municipal center and library, and establishing a Youth Leadership Council. From 2022 to 2024, she represented the 16th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly. During her time in the legislature, she contributed to the child tax credit program, mental health funding for public colleges, and reproductive rights.