IWMF Mourns the Passing of Neema Roshania Patel

The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is devastated to learn of the passing of Neema Roshania Patel, a mentor with the Gwen Ifill Mentorship Program and friend of the IWMF. Neema was a journalist and editor committed to developing younger journalists and cultivating a more trustworthy, diverse news media. 

As a founding editor of The Lily, The Washington Post’s news site elevating essential stories about gender and identity, Patel was committed to amplifying voices that are often ignored. She worked to make journalism a reflection of wider audiences, most recently as an editor with The Washington Post’s Next Generation audience development team. Patel also supported the development of women and nonbinary journalists from underrepresented backgrounds as a mentor for the IWMF’s 2022 Gwen Ifill Mentorship Program cohort.

“From our very first meeting on, Neema was a source of inspiration, comfort, and guidance,” said Ritu Prasad, Patel’s mentee. “She was always so generous with her time and knowledge, even while undergoing treatment in the last few months. I can’t properly express how much it meant to have someone like her care so much about my work and well-being. She will be deeply missed and always remembered.”

We are grateful for the opportunity to have worked closely with Neema and witnessed her curiosity, leadership, and long-lasting influence on the industry. We send our deepest condolences to her loved ones.

For more on the life and legacy of Neema, visit https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/10/25/neema-roshania-patel-washington-post-lily-dead/.