Barbara sharief biography

American politician (born 1971)

Barbara Muhammad Sharief (born November 7, 1971) is an American politician and nurse who has served as a member of the Florida Senate since 2024.

She previously served as a Broward County commissioner from 2010 to 2021, serving as mayor from 2013 to 2014, and again from 2016 to 2017.^[1][2][3] She was the county's first African-American female mayor.

Sharief is also a former Miramar city commissioner and vice mayor.^[4][5][6]

Early life and education

Sharief was born in Miami Beach, Florida, and grew up in Miami and Broward County, one of eight children of a self-employed clothing salesman and a retired schoolteacher.^[7][8] In 1985, at age 14, her father, James Muhammad Sharief, was shot and killed by a 15-year-old robber.

She began work soon after to support her family.^{[7][9][10][11]}

Sharief attended North