Ismail Smith-Wade-El | |
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![]() Smith-Wade-El in 2021 | |
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 49th district | |
Assumed office December 1, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Bud Cook |
Personal details | |
Born | Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Education | Carnegie Mellon University (BA) |
Ismail "Izzy" Smith-Wade-El is an American politician serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 49th district. Elected in November 2022, he assumed office on December 1, 2022.
Smith-Wade-El was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Dr. Rita Smith-Wade-El (1948-2018), a professor of psychology and African-American studies at Millersville University.[1][2] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre and anthropology from Carnegie Mellon University in 2014.[3]
Smith-Wade-El served as a member of the Lancaster City Council from 2017 until his resignation in 2022 following his election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He also worked as a program specialist at the Lancaster County Homeless Coalition.[2] Smith-Wade-El was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in November 2022, becoming the first black and first LGBTQ representative for the 49th district.[4][5]