Tina Courpas
Tina Courpas | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 149th district | |
| Assumed office January 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Rachel Khanna |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Katherine Ann Courpas July 4, 1966 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Kamil Marc Salame
(m. 1999, divorced) |
| Residence(s) | Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Education | Princeton University (AB) Columbia University (JD) |
Katherine Ann "Tina" Courpas (formerly Salame;[1] /kuʁ.pɑ/ Koorr-pah; born July 4, 1966) is an American attorney and politician who currently serves as member-elect of the Connecticut House of Representatives for the 149th district, encompassing parts of Greenwich and Stamford, for the Republican Party.[2][3] On November 6, 2024, Courpas defeated Democratic contrary and incumbent Rachel Khanna, also of Greenwich.[4]
Early life and education
[edit]Courpas was born July 4, 1966 in Baltimore, Maryland, the second of two children, to Anthony "Tony" Stamatios Courpas and Corinne Z. Courpas (née Zoides), both physicians.[5] Her parents were both ethnically Greek and where introduced while studying medicine at the University of Alexandria (Egypt) immigrating to the U.S. in 1959.[6] She has an older sister; Nora Vlahoyiannis (née Courpas).
She graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University in 1988. Courpas received a Juris Doctor degree from Columbia University in 1994, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.[7]
Career
[edit]Before entering politics, Courpas worked on Wall Street for over 20 years. She began her career at Goldman, Sachs & Co. She later practiced law at Kirkland & Ellis before returning to investment banking where she raised capital for private equity funds, including at Credit Suisse Private Fund Group.[8][9] From Wall Street, Courpas went on to become the executive director of two non-profits.
In 2018, Courpas became the executive director of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women in Connecticut, a bipartisan political non-profit. During her time as executive director, she helped advocate for legislation protecting Connecticut girls and women.[10] In 2022, Courpas was chosen to be the executive director of The Hellenic Initiative, an apolitical, philanthropic organization which unites the global Greek Diaspora in support of Greece.[11]
Politics
[edit]In February 2024, Courpas filed for candidacy. Courpas was unanimously nominated by Republican delegates from Greenwich and Stamford on May 16, 2024, as the Republican candidate for the 149th District.[12] In November 2024, Courpas defeated one term Democratic incumbent Rachel Khanna.[2]
Personal life
[edit]On September 25, 1999, Courpas married Kamil Marc Salame, then a vice-president and merchant banker at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, son of Elizabeth K. Salame and Albert J. Salame (1934–2023), a serial entrepreneur,[13] of Danbury, Connecticut, whom she later divorced.[14][15] They have four children;
- Kamil "Maron" Salame (born 2001)
- Marie Despina Salame (born 2003)
- Antonia "Melina" Salame (born 2005)
- Peter Salame (born 2010)
Courpas resides in Greenwich, Connecticut.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ see incline citation marriage
- ^ a b Laguarda, Andy Blye, Robert Marchant, Ignacio (2024-11-06). "Republican Tina Courpas beats Democratic Rep. Rachel Khanna for 149th District: Unofficial results". Greenwich Time. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Yager, Leslie (2024-05-17). "Tina Courpas Receives Nomination for 149th District: Greenwich and Stamford". Greenwich Free Press. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Racine, Claire K. (2024-11-06). "Unofficial Greenwich election results: See who won in CT House and Senate races". The Middletown Press. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ^ "Obituary for Corinna Z. Courpas at Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc". www.ruckfuneraltowson.com. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ^ "Dr. Anthony S. Courpas, a retired obstetrician-gynecologist who delivered thousands of babies, dies". Baltimore Sun. 2020-04-16. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ^ "WEDDINGS; Tina Courpas, Kamil Salame". New York Times. 1999-09-26. p. 12. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ News Release (April 2022). "Tina Courpas Named Executive Director of The Hellenic Initiative". The Hellenic Journal. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Tina Courpas". Permanent Commission on the Status of Women in Connecticut. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Marciano, Michael (2021-05-20). "PCSW: Connecticut Women Have Been Disproportionately Impacted by COVID-19". Connecticut Law Tribune. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Sakellis, Eleni (2022-11-06). "The Hellenic Initiative Executive Director Tina Courpas Speaks with TNH". The National Herald. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Blye, Andy. "See who Greenwich Democrats, Republicans endorsed to run in November 2024 elections in Connecticut". Greenwich Time. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Ryser, Rob (2023-12-19). "Death of Danbury HS graduate voted most likely to succeed leaves legacy of west side business growth". News-Times. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/26/style/weddings-tina-courpas-kamil-salame.html
- ^ "Stamos Courpas Obituary (2004) - Towson, MD - Baltimore Sun". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ^ Yager, Leslie (2024-07-02). "Meet Republican Candidate for State Rep in the 149th District, Tina Courpas, Political Newcomer". Greenwich Free Press. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- 1966 births
- Living people
- Connecticut Republicans
- Princeton University alumni
- Columbia Law School alumni
- 21st-century American women lawyers
- 21st-century American lawyers
- Lawyers from Greenwich, Connecticut
- Politicians from Greenwich, Connecticut
- 21st-century American women politicians
- Politicians from Baltimore