JD Vance was sworn in as the 49th Vice President of the United States on Monday, with his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, and their three children proudly standing by his side. While the spotlight shone brightly on the new vice president and President Donald Trump during the inauguration, Google searches were buzzing with one trending question: “Who is JD Vance’s wife?”
Here’s everything you need to know about Usha Vance, a Yale-educated lawyer and the new second lady.
Usha Vance, 39, grew up in San Diego, California, as the daughter of Indian immigrant parents. Her mother, a biologist, serves as a provost at the University of California, San Diego, while her father is an engineer.
Vance’s academic achievements include a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge, which she earned as a Gates Cambridge Scholar. She later attended Yale Law School, where she met her husband, JD Vance, during a class assignment.
In his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, JD Vance reflected on how their connection began: “In a place that always seemed a little foreign, Usha’s presence made me feel at home.”
The couple graduated in 2013 and tied the knot the following year.
After completing law school, Usha Vance clerked for prominent legal figures, including Chief Justice John Roberts and then-appeals court judge Brett Kavanaugh, who later joined the U.S. Supreme Court.
Vance continued her legal career as a trial lawyer at Munger, Tolles & Olson in Ohio, where she worked from 2019 to 2024. She left the firm after her husband was selected as Donald Trump’s running mate during the 2024 presidential campaign.
“Usha has been an excellent lawyer and colleague, and we wish her the best in her future career,” the firm stated following her departure.
Outside of her legal career, Usha Vance has actively contributed to the arts and education. She is a trustee of the Washington National Opera and has served on the board of the Gates Cambridge Alumni Association. Additionally, she acted as secretary for the board of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Her dedication to public service and community engagement aligns with her new role as the second lady, where she is expected to continue her efforts in supporting education, the arts, and other philanthropic causes.
As Usha Vance steps into her role as the second lady of the United States, her poise, intelligence, and commitment to service mark the beginning of a promising chapter alongside Vice President JD Vance.