MK Pritzker

MK (Mary Kathryn) Muenster Pritzker has served as Illinois's first lady since the inauguration of her husband, JB Pritzker, as governor in January 2019. In her work as first lady, MK builds on her lifelong commitment to advancing outcomes for women and girls in Illinois and beyond, focusing on expanding access to reproductive health care and developing restorative criminal justice responsive to women's needs. The first lady also contributes her time to supporting LGBTQ+ initiatives and promoting the arts--most recently co-chairing the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    Having been educated in historic decorative arts and architecture, MK has used those skills to restore the Illinois Governor's Mansion to a welcoming home and public space that preserves the rich history and culture of the people of Illinois. Her work has brought a carefully curated collection of fine art, crafts, and furniture to the mansion. In addition, the first lady has meticulously researched and documented the mansion's cultural history and changing architecture over its almost 170-year life. She and acclaimed interior designer Michael S. Smith have worked together to create a home filled with warmth.

    In addition to serving as first lady, MK is a member of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House. She previously served as a director of the Pritzker Family Foundation, which is primarily focused on women's health initiatives and early childhood development. Through the foundation, MK and her husband were engaged in the strategic plan for Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Their donation will be used, in part, to pay for scholarships and grants to allow highly qualified students of all income levels to attend one of America's best law schools. The gift also supports the law school's social justice, entrepreneurship, and civil and human rights initiatives.

    Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and raised in South Dakota, MK previously worked on the staffs of former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and former Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey. She graduated with a B.A. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and attended graduate school in the master of science in historic preservation program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. When not in Springfield, she resides in Chicago, Illinois, with JB, their daughter, Teddi, their son, Donny, and their dog, Lincoln.