Lori Shapiro is the wife of the Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro, and the First Lady. She was born in Pennsylvania’s Bucks County and has spent her whole life on family and public service.
Her early life and education
Shapiro spent her early childhood in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and later lived in Newtown, Pennsylvania. She attended high school at Akiba Hebrew Academy, now Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, where she met her future husband, Josh Shapiro, in the 9th grade. Shapiro graduated from Colgate University with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology, after which she worked for an information technology consulting firm while working toward a graduate degree at night. She also holds a master’s degree in Science, Technology and Public Policy from The George Washington University.
Lori Shapiro’s career
Lori Shapiro began her career in public service during the Clinton administration, at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as an analyst. She worked on policies that would spur economic innovation and bridge the emerging digital divide. She also acted as the liaison between the President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee and the White House.
After marrying and having a child, Shapiro and her husband moved back to Pennsylvania to raise their family. While Josh continued his career in public service, Lori focused on her family and community.
First Lady of Pennsylvania
As First Lady of Pennsylvania, Shapiro continues in her life of service and commitment to family. She uses her platform to shine a light on Pennsylvanians who are making a difference, positively impacting their communities whether through community-based non-profits or small businesses, or even in law enforcement and first responders. Good neighbors, argues Shapiro, can be found anywhere, and those “helpers,” as fellow Pennsylvanian Fred Rogers called them, should be recognized, supported, and emulated.
Shapiro also chairs the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and serves as a board member of the Philadelphia Art Museum.
Josh and Lori Shapiro’s family
Josh and Lori Shapiro have been acquainted since high school and married in 1997. They have four children namely; Sophia, Jonah, Max, and Reuben.
As their family grew, Lori became a trained parenting educator and used her skills to help new parents in their journey. The Shapiros lived busy lives but made service a priority by living the concept of Tikkun Olam, which teaches that acts of loving kindness can repair the world. With their kids in tow, Lori could often be found volunteering in the community and with organizations that worked to address hunger and poverty.
While living in the Governor’s Residence, the Shapiro family enjoys getting out and exploring Harrisburg and the local community. Lori is an animal lover, (the First Family has two dogs – Bo and Bentley), an up-and-coming baker, an up-and-coming running enthusiast – she finished her first Broad Street 10 mile run in Philadelphia in 2023, and a huge Philly sports fan.
