Primary Candidate Audio Companion: Dr. Dorothy Hassan

Welcome to The Hilliard Beacon’s 2025 City Election Coverage. By the time of the May 6th election we will have interviewed and published material with every candidate for Council and we hope to continue that streak with full coverage of the November Election as well.We were pleased to kick off the Beacon’s election cycle by meeting Dr. Dorothy Hassan at the Franklin Street Studio for a discussion of her Hilliard story, her hopes for City Council, and some of the perspective and advocacy she employs in her professional life.Dr. Hassan brings a rare mix of international experience and local investment. A professor, nonprofit leader, and mother of children enrolled in Hilliard schools, she spent significant time teaching English abroad in Yemen and Egypt before returning stateside after the Arab Spring. Her husband, in a classic American twist, discovered Hilliard while crisscrossing the country in a Volvo. The family has called Hilliard home since 2012.We covered a lot of ground in our 40+ minute conversation:Her Approach to GovernanceHassan leans into what she calls “professional learning,” emphasizing humility and curiosity. She doesn’t claim to know everything—but says she knows how to learn, and how to listen. She believes government should prioritize communication and wants to see councilmembers engage with residents earlier and more often, not just when tensions overflow into late-night meetings.City Systems & Government StructureIn an era of growth and transition—from strong mayor to city manager system—Hassan acknowledges both the opportunity and the friction that change brings. Inspired by County Commissioner initiatives like “Conversations with Crawley” in Columbus, she advocates for low-barrier, informal touchpoints with elected officials to improve trust and representation.Community WeavingRather than call herself a “community builder,” Hassan prefers the title “community weaver”—someone who identifies common ground across disparate groups and knits them into mutual purpose. Her track record includes outreach across Central Ohio’s immigrant and refugee populations, creating meaningful connection by sharing resources and listening to experiences.On Growth, Development, and EquityHassan didn’t shy away from the difficult balance between development and community sentiment. Living near the Hill Farm II project, she emphasized a desire for greater foresight and transparency from city leadership, suggesting early problem-solving (like addressing traffic safety / connectivity) should help diffuse tension before final votes.Tech Futures & EconomyWhile new to some of the city's development lingo (Converge, Hilliard City Lab, etc.), Hassan sees the city's tech-forward posture as both promising and already yielding results. She’s pragmatic about the long game, encouraging residents to understand that big bets on infrastructure are how cities stay ready and maintain economic momentum.Representation & InclusionDr. Hassan responded to Tim’s thoughtful question about our growing diversity and addressed the ongoing evolution and relationship between Hilliard’s Muslim and non-Muslim populations. As a growing demographic, the Muslim community is still early in its political participation. Hassan, a convert to Islam herself as a young adult, seems uniquely positioned to serve as both “gate opener” and bridge, fostering trust on both sides of the important cultural conversation.https://www.instagram.com/dr._d_hassan/- Keep up with her events and posts on Instagramhttps://www.facebook.com/people/Dorothy-Hassan-for-Hilliard/61571702911631/#- Contact Dorothy on FacebookStay connected to the Hilliard Beacon for more candidate interviews in the days and weeks to come…The Hilliard Beacon is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hilliardbeacon.substack.com/subscribe