Ghazala Firdous Hashmi (born July 5, 1964) is an Indian-born American politician and former academic administrator and educator.

She worked as an educator and academic administrator for 25 years before running for office.

Her maternal grandfather served in the finance department of the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

At J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, she served as the founding director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

She is the first woman to represent the district and the first Muslim elected to the Senate of Virginia.