Taral V. Patel

Much of my childhood was spent in public libraries and in the American Public School system while my parents worked multiple jobs to support us. Our public institutions, programs, and personnel gave us the foundation to lead successful and healthy lives. To me, there’s nothing more joyous or fulfilling than helping further build our public institutions to keep supporting all of our communities.

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I am currently serving as a Law Clerk for the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section, and I am a proud American of Indian descent and a Sanātanī Public Servant. In my role as a public servant, I strive to bring people together from all walks of life with the goal of a more representational, just, and equitable society. The value that diverse people, diverse experiences, and diverse thoughts in a room can bring is truly immeasurable.

Over the course of my career, the highlight has been the people – the people we work with and work for.  When I worked for Fort Bend County, the most diverse county in the United States, I helped in the coordinated emergency response to the first case of COVID in Texas, the energy grid failure during Winter Storm Uri, and numerous flooding-related weather events to name a few. In each of these life-threatening situations, I worked closely with a diverse cast of professionals, including cowboys, immigrants, first responders, engineers, students, and people of all backgrounds. Together, we worked to support and care for an equally diverse community that was about 25% White, 25% Black, 25% Latino, and 25% Asian. It was incredible to see such diversity working in close coordination to support and care for one another, no matter our differences.

Together, we made a positive impact, and I hope this becomes a model of public service for our nation and the world.

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