Chicago Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot is a U of M grad. (Photo: Facebook)
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot is an alumna of the University of Michigan. (Photo: Facebook)
Lori Lightfoot, who Tuesday night made history when she was elected the first black woman and openly gay mayor of Chicago, learned about politics at the University of Michigan.
The 56-year-old former federal prosecutor received her bachelor's in political science at the school in 1984, graduating with honors. She “paid her own way through college with loans and a series of work-study jobs,” her campaign website says.
Hey, Chicago! Here’s your chance to elect a tremendous leader, @LightfootForChi. I have known and respected Lori Lightfoot since she was an RA in Bursley Hall at @Umich. She solved problems with great integrity then, and has spent 3 decades learning and serving. Vote for Lori. https://t.co/iG2hcymCsT
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) March 31, 2019
At U of M, Lightfoot was an RA to Barb McQuade, who went on to become the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. McQuade tells The Detroit News, “Lori was a great leader even as a college student" and "was destined to go places."
McQuade said Lightfoot is a quiet but strong leader any city would be proud to have.
“She is every bit the leader I would imagine she would become,” McQuade said. “I think she’s an excellent problem solver and would use the qualities she developed as a lawyer and would bring those problem-solving qualities. We should all be so lucky to have her be the mayor of a major city in America.”
Lightfoot also served a one-year clerkship on the Michigan Supreme Court in Detroit.
Lightfoot is orginally from Ohio. She received her law degree at the University of Chicago and served on the Chicago City Council and Cook County Board.
