A trailblazing figure in American politics, Senator Butler completed the term of the late Senator
Dianne Feinstein. Butler has a storied career as a trusted advisor to top elected officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s presidential campaign, championing transformative public policies that reflect her lifelong commitment to justice and fairness for all communities.

Named as “Champion of Change,” by President Barack Obama, Senator Butler was president of
EMILY’s List before she was named to the Senate, and served as president of SEIU Local 2015,
California’s largest labor union. Senator Butler is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has served as a director on the Board of Governors of the Los Angeles branch of the Federal Reserve System, as well as a member of the University of California Board of Regents.

Senator Butler holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Jackson State University and has held numerous leadership roles, including as board member for the National Children’s Defense Fund and the Bay Area Economic Council Institute, and as a fellow at the MIT Community Innovators Lab. She was also a Young Leader at the French-American Foundation.

Laphonza's discussion group this fall is titled "AI, Labor, and the Politics of the Future of Work."