Lori Shapiro: Advocate and First Lady of Pennsylvania

Lori Shapiro, born Lori Ferrara on March 10, 1973, is the First Lady of Pennsylvania and the wife of Governor Josh Shapiro. The couple has been together since high school, having met in ninth grade at Akiba Hebrew Academy (now Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. They married in May 1997 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, after Josh proposed in Jerusalem earlier that year .​

Raised in Bucks County, Lori attended Colgate University, earning a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. She later pursued a master’s degree in Science, Technology, and Public Policy from The George Washington University . Lori began her career in public service during the Clinton administration, working in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. She focused on policies aimed at bridging the digital divide and promoting economic innovation

After starting their family, Lori and Josh returned to Pennsylvania, where she dedicated herself to raising their four children: Sophia, Jonah, Max, and Reuben. She also became a trained parenting educator and actively volunteered with organizations addressing hunger and poverty

Since becoming First Lady in January 2023, Lori has continued her commitment to service. She highlights the efforts of Pennsylvanians making meaningful differences in their communities, from community-based nonprofits to law enforcement and first responders . Lori currently serves as Honorary Chair of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and sits on the board of the Philadelphia Art Museum .​

In April 2025, Lori and her family were safely evacuated from the Governor’s Residence following an arson attack. The incident underscored their appreciation for first responders and the importance of community safety.​

Beyond her public roles, Lori is an animal lover with two dogs, Bo and Bentley, a novice baker, a budding running enthusiast who completed her first Broad Street 10-mile run in 2023, and an emotionally invested Philadelphia sports fan .​