Usha Vance: The Academic and Professional Achievements of JD Vance’s Wife

Usha Vance, the wife of U.S. Senator JD Vance, has recently gained significant attention following her husband’s nomination as Donald Trump‘s running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Born to Indian immigrants, Usha Chilukuri Vance is known for her academic prowess and professional achievements. She met JD Vance while they were both students at Yale Law School, and they married in 2014 in an interfaith ceremony in Kentucky.

Usha Vance comes from a family deeply rooted in academic excellence. Her parents, who moved to the U.S. in the late 1970s, teach engineering and molecular biology in San Diego. Her family has a strong connection to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), with her father and grandfather having taught or studied there. Her younger sister is a mechanical engineer, and an aunt is a medical professional in Chennai, India.

Usha Vance herself is a highly accomplished individual. She clerked for U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts and later worked as an attorney at the law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. She resigned from her position after her husband was named as the Republican vice presidential candidate. Her academic background includes studying at Yale Law School and Cambridge.

In her public debut on the national stage, Usha Vance introduced her husband at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Her family, particularly her mother Shanthamma Chilukuri, has expressed pride and happiness over JD Vance’s nomination. The family is deeply religious, with a strong background in Hinduism, and Usha has spoken about the influence of her Hindu upbringing on her life.

Usha Vance’s role in supporting her husband’s political career has also been highlighted. JD Vance has credited her with helping him re-engage with his Christian faith. Despite the increased media attention, Usha Vance’s parents and sister in the U.S. have chosen not to comment publicly.