Pamela Pugh was born on December 20, 1970, in
Newton, Mississippi. Her father, John Pugh, is a civil rights activist, professor, and administrator at
Delta College and her mother was a paraprofessional. She attended Florida A&M earning a Bachelor of Science and the University of Michigan graduating with a Master of Science and Doctorate of Public Health. Pugh serves on multiple boards including the Healthy Schools Network Board of Directors and the
National Association of State Boards of Education Board of Directors. She also served as the Chief Public Health Advisor to the city of
Flint during its
water crisis. Pugh is the first Black woman to serve as the President of the Michigan State Board of Education. She was voted president in a 6–0 vote with two Republican members voting present. Pugh withdrew from the race on November 27 to instead run for the
8th district in the
U.S. House of Representatives, 11 days after incumbent
Dan Kildee announced that he was not seeking re-election. == Electoral history ==