Sheila Badwan

Sheila Badwan was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, and raised in Greenville. She graduated in 2005 from East Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, concentrating in Management. She has over a decade of experience in the healthcare industry, specializing in medical billing and coding across various specialties. For the last 10 years, Sheila has worked closely with refugee and immigrant populations, bringing extensive experience in community collaboration, particularly with differently abled individuals as well. She is deeply engaged in supporting refugee and immigrant communities in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin. A devoted wife and mother of two children, one of whom is partially deaf and has epilepsy, Sheila is passionate about building bridges across cultures and faiths. She has worked across the state to build relationships among diverse communities, cultures, and religions around refugee and immigrant issues. She currently serves on several committees, including the advisory committee of Our Peaceful Home, a culturally specific domestic violence program with the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, and the steering committee for the HOME program at Lynden Sculpture Garden, which organizes World Refugee Day events. Sheila is also the Co-Chair of the Wisconsin State Refugee Advisory Council. She is the Executive Director of Hanan Refugees Relief Group, a humanitarian organization based in Milwaukee. In addition, she serves as President of the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance and is a member of several other boards. Sheila regularly gives interviews on local and national platforms to raise awareness about refugee and immigrant issues. She has received numerous recognitions for her work. In 2019, she was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the “This is Milwaukee” project. In July 2022, she was honored as Hero of the Month by Shepherd Express magazine.