Alumni Gazette

Josh Shapiro ’95

Pennsylvania Attorney General

A native of Abington, just outside Philadelphia, Josh Shapiro ’95 has moved steadily upward to higher and higher offices since his first election, as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, in 2004. In January, he became the 50th attorney general of the state of Pennsylvania.

Shapiro served three terms in the legislature representing the district that includes his hometown. Then, in 2012, he sought and won election to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. A Democrat, he defeated Republican State Sen. John Rafferty, whose district includes parts of Montgomery County, in last November’s race for attorney general.

A political science major at Rochester, Shapiro got his first taste of legislative politics as a participant in the political science department’s Semester in Washington program. That experience led him to return to Capitol Hill after graduation, where he eventually became the chief of staff to Rep. Joe Hoeffel of Pennsylvania.

Tony Vargas ’08

Nebraska State Senator

In January, about the time he was taking the oath of office as a Nebraska state senator, Tony Vargas ’08 was also accepting an award from the Omaha Jaycees as one of Ten Outstanding Young Omahans. The award, which honors community service and professional development, underscored the growing importance of Vargas, a native of New York City, in Nebraska’s largest city.

The son of Peruvian immigrants, Vargas studied psychology at Rochester and gained research experience in the lab of Jack Werren, the Nathaniel and Helen Wisch Professor in Biology. He began his professional career teaching science in a New York City public school for Teach for America. His work with the nonprofit led him to Nebraska, where he worked on teacher support and development for Teach for America, before becoming a policy analyst for an Omaha educational consulting firm and a member of the Omaha School Board. Last fall, he accepted a new position, which he retains while serving in the senate, as marketing and communications director for Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance.

A Democrat, Vargas defeated Republican challenger John Synowiecki last November. Vargas is the only Latino serving in Nebraska’s unicameral legislature.

Mary Beth Walsh ’87

New York Assemblywoman

Mary Beth Walsh ’87 is a lawyer in private practice, where her work has been focused on advocating for children in Family Court. Before winning a seat in the New York State Assembly in November, she served on the Ballston Town Board and as assistant Saratoga County attorney. A specialist in municipal as well as family law, she’s also a board member of the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency.

Walsh, a Republican, defeated Democratic challenger Michael Godlewski, also a family attorney, in November.