Annexstad Family Foundation Leaders for Tomorrow Scholar and Boston College graduate Naren Briar ’20 recently reached a historic milestone, becoming the first Kurdish American believed to hold elected political office in the United States.
Briar was elected to the Bellevue, Washington, City Council in November 2025, winning a seat that had been held by the same incumbent for more than 30 years.
The daughter of Kurdish Iraqi refugees who came to the United States in 1996, Briar grew up in Dallas before attending Boston College, where she studied political science. After graduating in 2020, she moved to the Seattle area and began her career at Meta.
Her interest in local government grew after participating in a civics class offered by the City of Bellevue and attending city council meetings. Through that experience, Briar saw how local government can bring people together around issues that directly affect their communities.
In a recent feature from Boston College Magazine, Briar reflected on her family’s journey to the United States, her path from Boston College to the Seattle area, and what inspired her to pursue public service.
The Annexstad Family Foundation is proud to see Leaders for Tomorrow alumni like Briar continuing to lead, serve, and make an impact in their communities.
Read the full story from Boston College Magazine: