Vanita Gupta

Vanita Gupta is a highly respected civil rights attorney and political figure who has dedicated her career to advancing social justice and criminal justice reform in America. Born to Indian immigrant parents, she grew up with a strong commitment to equity and civil rights. She served as the head of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice under President Barack Obama from 2014 to 2017, where she led significant initiatives addressing police reform, voting rights, and discrimination cases. During the Trump administration, she served as president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, one of the nation's oldest civil rights organizations. In 2021, President Biden appointed her as Associate Attorney General, the third-highest position in the Department of Justice. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in shaping national conversations around criminal justice, police accountability, and systemic racism. Her work has earned her widespread recognition as one of the most influential civil rights leaders of her generation.