Michelle Kaufusi

Moral & Ethical Leadership

Michelle Kaufusi is a Provo girl through and through: born and raised, graduated from Brigham Young University and ultimately making history as its first female mayor.

The sixth of seven children, Michelle was raised not only by a single mother working hard as a graveyard shift nurse, but also by many neighbors, family and friends who pitched in to help. Provo quite literally helped raise Michelle.

In gratitude, Michelle has continually found ways to give back to her “village” by helping to raise Provo in return. Always actively involved in community service, Michelle served on many boards and commissions, including the Provo City Citizens Advisory Board and the Provo School District board, ultimately serving as its board president.

Within only two years of being elected as the first female mayor in Provo City, Mayor Kaufusi earned the honor of Informed Decision Maker of the Year by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. Under her leadership, Provo City continually receives national accolades, with 2020 distinctions being #1 Safest Big City, #3 Best Run City, and #3 Best College City. Recently named as the 2021 Best Performing City by the renowned Milken Institute, Provo stands out nationally for its job growth, high tech concentration, and its high-quality lifestyle, without the price tag of comparable tech cities.

Michelle recently unveiled her four Provo Pillars to show a renewed focus on strong foundational principles while positioning Provo for growth opportunities. Citizens can follow the progress of each of the Provo Pillars: Welcoming, Safe & Sound, Economically Vibrant and Forward-Looking at ProvoConnect.com.