Shamina Singh received bachelor's degree in political science from Old Dominion University in 1991 apart from her studies she was associated with the Model United Nations Society, where she served as secretary-general and also started a women's studies group and campaigned for Gov. Doug Wilderand. Then she completed her masters degree in public affairs from Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

Shamina Singh is the daughter of two highly visible social and political activists, Jagdish and Amarjit Singh Sikhs who migrated from India about 30 years ago. After her graduation she worked campaign manager for a Virginia delegate candidate and as an assistant to musician Bruce Hornsby, before moving to Texas and landing a role in the Ann Richards gubernatorial campaign.

Shamina was a senior legislative advocate with the Service Employees International Union, the country's largest union of health care workers. That was followed by a post as special assistant to the assistant secretary of pension and welfare benefits administration in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs.

She worked in the Clinton administration, first as congressional liaison for healthcare at the U.S. Department of Labour, then as executive director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Singh was handpicked for the position by the White House in 1999, shortly after Clinton signed an executive order mandating a federal initiative to improve the health and well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) through increased participation in federal programs where they may be underserved.

Shamia for her active preformance received many recognitions, she was conferred with "Young Woman of Achievement Award" from Women's Information Network and the "Creating A Voice Award" from Project Impact. She was selected by "A" magazine as one of "Twenty Asian Americans to Watch in the 21st Century", and by "India Today" magazine as a "Face of the Future", she is a Fellow with the Aspen Institute and serves on the board of the Asian Pacific American Women’s Leadership Institute.