Hagir S. Elsheikh
Dr. Hagir S. Elsheikh is a Sudanese–American entrepreneur, human rights advocate, author and media host. She is chairwoman and CEO of the Hagir Network and founder of Tomorrow's Smile Inc., Kareem's Mission Autism Support Center, HSE Staffing Agency LLC and KMission TV LLC, among other community ventures in Central Pennsylvania. Her advocacy on behalf of survivors, women's rights, refugees and families navigating autism has been covered by WITF, The Patriot-News/PennLive, TheBurg and regional television stations.
In 2025 she received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Central Penn College, was named to City & State Pennsylvania's 40 in Their 40s list, and was recognized in the U.S. Congressional Record for humanitarian service and community advocacy. A Pennsylvania Senate citation honoring her community leadership was presented by Senator Patty Kim in June 2025.
Early life and political activism
Elsheikh was born in Sudan. From the age of eleven she opposed the government of Omar al-Bashir through student organizing and public protest. Arabic-language profiles in An-Nahar and Alrakoba report that she was arrested and tortured for her activism before seeking asylum in the United States.Education
In Pennsylvania she studied nursing at Harrisburg Area Community College, where she was later recognized as a Distinguished Alumna and joined the board of trustees. She completed a B.S. in nursing at Grand Canyon University in 2012 and was inducted into the GCU Alumni Hall of Fame in 2019.Career and organizations
Elsheikh founded or leads several community and media ventures in Central Pennsylvania:HSE Staffing Agency LLC – a healthcare staffing firm covered in local business and community profiles.Tomorrow's Smile Inc. – a nonprofit organization providing survivor support and public education.Kareem's Mission – a nonprofit founded after her son's autism diagnosis to provide family resources, peer connection and education; profiled by WITF and FOX43, and earlier by CBS21.KMission TV LLC / Hagir Network – media platforms producing bilingual interviews and the community-affairs program The Hagir Show, carried by the Philadelphia community media network PhillyCAM.Media and public commentary
Elsheikh hosts The Hagir Show and appears in regional and international media:- **WITF ** – interviews and features on Sudan, diaspora advocacy and autism.
- **ABC27 ** – author spotlight for Dreamer in Chains.
- **FOX43/CBS21** – coverage of Kareem's Mission nonprofit.
- **France 24 Arabic** – panel discussions on U.S. politics and Middle East affairs.
Speaking and advocacy
Elsheikh speaks at universities and policy forums on human rights, diaspora leadership and civic participation:- *Women Transforming Societies: The Global Fight for Human Rights*, Perry World House, University of Pennsylvania.
- Forum 2000 with the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg delegation; WITF coverage summarized the program and remarks.
- Global Policy Institute/Bay Atlantic University webinar, “Sudan: Internally Displaced People and Refugees”.
- African Human Rights Leaders Summit, Johns Hopkins SAIS.
- Gender Week keynote, Clarke Forum, Dickinson College.
Boards and community leadership
Elsheikh serves as a trustee of Harrisburg Area Community College and on the board of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities. She is also a board member of the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg. She has participated in Church World Service Lancaster's New Neighbors Speakers Bureau and collaborated with the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition in programs presented by The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.Honors and recognition
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Central Penn College.City & State Pennsylvania – 40 in Their 40s.Recognized in the U.S. Congressional Record for humanitarian service and community advocacy.Pennsylvania Senate Citation, presented by Senator Patty Kim and the Pennsylvania Senate.Carolyne L. Smith Legacy Award, YWCA Harrisburg “Tribute to Women of Excellence”.Women's History Garden Honoree, Civic Club of Harrisburg & WACH.Woman of Influence, Central Penn Business Journal.- Recognized during the 2018 Year of the Woman by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.