Pamela Pugh

Pamela Louise Pugh (born December 20, 1970) is an American public health scientist, politician, and the current president of the Michigan State Board of Education. She first won election to the board in 2014 and was reelected in 2022. She was a Democratic candidate for Michigan's 8th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024.

Biography Pamela Pugh was born on December 20, 1970, in Newton, Mississippi. Her father, John Pugh, is a civil rights activist, professor, and administrator at Delta College and her mother was a paraprofessional. She attended Florida A&M earning a Bachelor of Science and the University of Michigan graduating with a Master of Science and Doctorate of Public Health. Pugh serves on multiple boards including the Healthy Schools Network Board of Directors and the National Association of State Boards of Education Board of Directors. She also served as the Chief Public Health Advisor to the city of Flint during its water crisis.

Pugh is the first Black woman to serve as the President of the Michigan State Board of Education. She was voted president in a 6–0 vote with two Republican members voting present. Pugh withdrew from the race on November 27 to instead run for the 8th district in the U.S. House of Representatives, 11 days after incumbent Dan Kildee announced that he was not seeking re-election.

Electoral history