School of Law Alumna Shelley Berkley ‘76 (JD) Elected Mayor of Las Vegas

University of San Diego (USD) School of Law alumna Shelley Berkley '04 (JD) was recently elected the mayor of Las Vegas.

Berkley, who was sworn in on December 4, began her career in public service in 1983 as an assemblywoman in the Nevada State Legislature, where she worked to strengthen consumer protection laws and to crack down on drunk driving. She created the Senior Law Project and wrote the Lemon Law which protects new car owners from defective vehicles. Both programs continue to this day.

She was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1998 and represented Nevada's first Congressional District from 1999 to 2013. She was the first woman to serve the District and held the position for seven terms. Prior to her election to Congress, she served as a member of the Nevada State System of Higher Education's Board of Regents for eight years after serving in the Nevada State Legislature for one term. During Berkley's 14 years in Congress, she served on the Transportation Committee, Small Business Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee.

Berkley earned the title of "hardest working woman in politics" for her tireless work on issues including job creation, healthcare and renewable energy. She also was a champion for veterans, seniors, immigration reform and human rights. 

In 2014, Berkley was hired as CEO and senior provost of the Touro College and University System in Nevada and California, later being promoted to senior vice president of the University. She retired from that position in 2023 after declaring her candidacy in the 2024 Las Vegas mayoral election.

In 2014, Berkley delivered the commencement address at the USD School of Law graduation.

— USD News Center