ABOUT BURRISS
Burriss understands the value of hard work, perspective, and what it means to achieve in the face of adversity.
Michaela Burriss is running for State Representative because the things that made her life possible are under attack. Going from homelessness to homeownership is her version of the American Dream. Alongside her husband, Patrick, they proudly live on the Upper Arlington July 4th parade route with their daughter Sascha and dog Koopa. At their home, after the Dobbs decision, they started the Burriss Backyard Speaker Series, making progressive candidates and causes accessible to hundreds of Ohioans throughout the years. Both lifelong Ohioans, the Burrisses understand the importance of this moment and the need to stand up for the well-being of their community and neighbors.
An attorney, Michaela Burriss is the youngest woman ever elected to Upper Arlington City Council, where she served one term before choosing not to seek re-election to spend more time with her infant daughter. Burriss brought accessibility and a fresh perspective to the role. She had many legislative successes on the dais, often focusing on unmet needs, underserved communities and social justice. During her service, she received the League of Women Voters of Ohio 2023 Judge Florence E. Allen Outstanding Public Service Trailblazer Award. She shared this award with former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, the first woman to lead the state judicial branch and the longest-serving statewide elected woman in Ohio history.
Burriss has spent most of her career in the public sector including the office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. She has been a Statehouse staffer, both in the Ohio Senate and Ohio House of Representatives. In these roles, she's drafted policy and conducted constituent services to help residents navigate government bureaucracy and gain access to critical needs. Her many years of dedication at the Statehouse earned her a 2023 Council of State Governments 20 Under 40 Leadership Award nomination, which recognizes up-and-coming elected and appointed officials nationwide who exemplify strong leadership skills and a commitment to serving citizens. She also received two Sloopys Award nominations for “Best House Democratic Staffer”. She prides herself on her ability to be kind, listen, work with, and accomplish positive things for Ohioans no matter their political beliefs.
A former small business owner herself, Burriss spent several years with Small Business Majority, a nonprofit organization advocating for public policy solutions to help small businesses. She traveled the state and country conducting research specific to municipalities' and their economic needs. Burriss also did nonpartisan education on issues ranging from access to capital, healthcare, and retirement. Her statewide and national experience are why Burriss can identify innovative solutions to economic and residential development challenges.
Currently, Burriss is the Policy Director for the Ohio Justice & Policy Center, a nonprofit law firm fighting for equal justice and fair treatment in all stages of incarceration. In this role, Burriss is frequently, and successfully, testifying and advocating to state lawmakers, on both sides of the political aisle, to advance smart criminal justice reforms. Her voice has frequently been amplified in press conferences and television appearances as a thoughtful, and trusted, messenger on the role of government and the impact of pending legislation. These experiences add up to more than a decade of hands-on work within the Statehouse, making Burriss uniquely qualified to creatively solve problems and champion the causes we care about most.
A native of Northeast Ohio, raised in poverty by a single mother who immigrated from Germany, Burriss is a high school All-American and accepted a full athletic scholarship to Ohio University. At Ohio, she was an Academic All-American and multi-time All-Mid-American Conference athlete while obtaining a degree in Political Science Pre-Law before graduating from Capital University Law School. She understands the value of hard work, perspective, and what it means to achieve in the face of adversity.
With her energy and diverse background, Michaela Burriss is well-prepared to represent District 7 in the Ohio Statehouse and serve all Ohioans.
Member, Ohio Women in Government
Member, Columbus Branch NAACP #3177
Advocate Member, Stonewall Columbus & Equality Ohio
Member, League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus
Member, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Member, Franklin County Young Democrats
Parliamentarian and Member, Ohio Young Democrats
Blue Bucks Member, Franklin County Democratic Party
Member, Upper Arlington Progressive Action
Member, Franklin County Democratic Lawyers Club
Member, Central Ohio Young Black Democrats
Member, Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio
Executive Committee At-Large Member, American Constitution Society
Member, Human Rights Campaign
Board of Directors, Member, and Class Graduate, Leadership UA
Co-Area Director, Upper Arlington Bridges
Current and Past Community Involvement
Volunteer Asst. Coach, UAHS Women’s Varsity Swimming
Speaker and Facilitator, UAHS Idea Day
Member, Equal UA
Member and Evening of Sparkle and Fashion Volunteer, Upper Arlington Women’s Club
Member and The Walk Volunteer, Upper Arlington Civic Association
Member and Trolley Tour Check-In Volunteer, Upper Arlington Historical Society
Member, Friends of the Upper Arlington Public Library
Facilities Master Planning Process Participant and Attendee, UA Schools
Member, Capital University Law School Alumni Board
Barrister Leadership Program, Columbus Bar Association
At-Large Member, Ohio University Student Senate Alumni Board
Big Sister, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio
Board of Directors, Forge Columbus
Member, Women Lawyers of Franklin County
Life Fellow and 2014 Fellows Class, Ohio State Bar Foundation
Capital University Law School, Doctor of Jurisprudence
First-time Exam Taker and Member in Good Standing, Ohio Bar
“Students Giving Back to Students” Class Gift Recipient
Dean’s List
President, Capital University Law School Democrats
Secretary, Capital Equality Alliance
Academic All-American, Varsity Swimming & Diving
Full Athletic Scholarship and Four-Year Varsity Letter Recipient, Varsity Swimming & Diving
University Standing Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics (Presidential Appointment)
Council of Student Leaders (Dean of Students Appointment)
Board of Directors, Center for Student Legal Services
President and Member, Student Athlete Advisory Committee
Director and Volunteer, Athens Beautification Day
Off-Campus Life Commissioner, Student Senate
Member, Student Trustee Selection Committee
Member, General Fee Advisory Council
Ohio University, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science Pre-Law
2x All-MAC Academic Team Selection, Varsity Swimming & Diving
3x All-MAC First Team, 1x All-MAC Second Team Selection, Varsity Swimming & Diving
Most Improved Athlete, Varsity Swimming & Diving
Most Valuable Athlete, Varsity Swimming & Diving
Dean’s List
2x Dean of Students Citation Recipient
Mid American Conference Team and Relay Champion
Former School Record Holder and All-Time Top 10, Varsity Swimming & Diving
Selected as an Ohio University Face of Pride for being an ally to the LGBTQ Community
Honors and Awards
League of Women Voters of Ohio 2023 Judge Florence E. Allen Outstanding Public Service Trailblazer Award (shared with former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor)
2023 Riverside High School Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee
2023 Council of State Governments 20 Under 40 Leadership Award Nominee, recognizing up-&-coming elected & appointed officials, across the country, who exemplify strong leadership skills & demonstrate a true commitment to serving the citizens of their state/territory
2022 & 2023 Sloopys Award Finalist & Nominee for “Best House Democratic Staffer”
The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) Ohio University Alumni Nominee