Michelle De La Isla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michelle De La Isla
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| Mayor of Topeka | |
| In office January 8, 2018 – January 4, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Larry Wolgast |
| Succeeded by | Mike Padilla |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 19, 1976 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Wichita State University (BS) Fort Hays State University (MBA) Harvard University |
Michelle De La Isla (born March 19, 1976) is an American politician who served as the mayor of Topeka, Kansas from 2018 to 2022. She previously served on the Topeka City Council from 2013 to 2018. De La Isla was the city's first Latina and single mother to serve as mayor. She was the Democratic nominee for Kansas's 2nd congressional district in the 2020 election, but lost.
Early life and education
Born in New York City, De La Isla grew up mostly in Puerto Rico. She attended the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez before moving to Wichita, Kansas in 2000. She experienced homelessness and gave birth to a child as a teenager. In 2001, she graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor of science degree in biology. She received an MBA in leadership and human resources from Fort Hays State University and is in the MPA program for mid-career professionals at Harvard University.
Career
De La Isla worked as a teacher for Upward Bound. In 2005, she moved to Topeka, Kansas, and joined Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. as its Community Relations and Spanish Services Coordinator, and later, its Chief Financial Officer.
Personal life
De La Isla has two daughters and one son.
