Mia Love is a Republican politician and the current U.S. Representative from Utah’s 4th congressional district. She is the first Haitian American and the first black female Republican to be elected to Congress. Love was born in Brooklyn to Haitian parents and eventually moved to Connecticut. After graduating from college and working in the private sector, she was elected to two terms on the city council of Saratoga Springs and was then chosen to lead the city as mayor in 2010. The city went through a period of rapid population growth during her time in it’s service, and her leadership guided the city through the transition from an agricultural community to a residential one. She also worked with other leaders to bring the city through the recession, reducing its deficit and ensuring the city achieved the highest possible bond rating for a city of its size.

Ms. Love is gaining national prominence in the Republican Party and was chosen as a speaker at the 2012 Republican National Convention. In 2013, Newsmax named her an “Up and Comer” in their list of top “25 Influential Women of the GOP.” Last year, she joined the Republican National Committee’s National Advisory Council on African-American outreach. In Congress, she currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee and is a member of the Black Caucus.

In the word of the HLS community member who nominated Ms. Love, “her story is inspiring to the children of immigrants like myself.”

Love earned a degree in fine arts from the University of Hartford.