Theresa Mah is the Illinois State Representative for the 24th House District (previously the 2nd District priot to 2021). In 2016 she made history as the first Asian American elected to the Illinois General Assembly. Prior to her election, Dr. Mah worked with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's administration on efforts to improve diversity and minority representation in state government.

Rep. Mah earned her BA from Berkeley and her PhD in History from the University of Chicago in 1999. After graduating, she was an Assistant Professor at Bowling Green State University until she returned to Chicago to pursue politics, advocacy, and activism.

Alumni of the Division of the Social Sciences are characterized by Chicago’s deep commitment to scientific analysis, methodological innovation, and the use of theory to extend the explanatory and predictive power of social research. Whether an MA or PhD graduate (or both), each takes those values into careers in the academy and in a broad range of sectors including banking and finance, technology, and social technology, consulting and market research, health fields, and government/policymaking, among others.

SSD’s Dialogo podcast brings alumni into conversation with Paul Poast, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Deputy Dean for Doctoral Education, and Kelly Pollock, Dean of Students. Each season will feature alumni with careers in a particular field or industry.