An Indian-born American has risen to become the lieutenant governor of Maryland, all while holding fast to the American Dream.
In honor of Women's History Month, the 2024 Maryland Women's Hall of Fame class recently inducted Maryland's 10th Lieutenant Governor.
For the 2024 “Women of the Year” issue, Women of Color magazine featured an interview with Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller. Read the article online here.
Aruna Miller was overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, and spectacle of an American airport when she arrived from India at age 7 in 1972.
She had an exuberant reaction to the bustling crowds, which she perceived as welcoming her father and her family to a country that held so much promise.
The family settled in New York and then Missouri, where her father worked as a mechanical engineer.
His daughter earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology and worked for more than two decades for the Maryland Department of Transportation in Montgomery County, working to improve public safety, reduce traffic congestion, and create equitable transportation access.
Miller, now 59, became an American citizen in 2000.
Miller advanced her commitment to public service in 2010 by running for and winning a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 15.
Her eight years in the House were marked by significant achievements, including legislation supporting STEM education, streamlining regulations for small businesses, protecting working families, advocating for domestic abuse survivors, and championing environmental causes.
She served on the Ways and Means Committee and its Revenue, Transportation, and Education Subcommittees.
Additionally, in her second term, Miller served on the Appropriations Committee, where she was chair of the Oversight of Personnel Subcommittee, vice chair of the Transportation and Environment Subcommittee, and vice chair of the Capital Budget Subcommittee.
An unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2018 did not deter Miller from her enthusiasm and dedication to public service.
In 2022, Wes Moore selected her as his running mate in the Maryland gubernatorial race, paving the way for a historic victory.
The Moore-Miller ticket won 64 percent of the vote in November 2022, making Moore Maryland’s first African-American governor and Miller the state’s first woman of color and immigrant to hold statewide office as lieutenant governor.
During an election night speech, Miller said she was humbled to be the next lieutenant governor.
“Look, it is not lost on me on the onus of this moment being elected as the first immigrant to statewide office in Maryland,” said Miller. “And make no mistake, I know that as an immigrant I would not be standing here before you were it not for the courage of those before me who fought for our nation, our freedom, and our democracy. “I also know that I wouldn’t have the privilege being an American if it were not for the Black activists who struggled and fought for our civil rights, and this has made all the difference,” she said. “You see when you drop a bold, new, progressive idea into the world like the 1964 Civil Rights Act, you get a ripple effect. It gave America, the world, voting rights, women’s rights, workers’ rights, and immigrant rights.”
Recalling her initial reaction of coming to America as a child, Miller said, “I have never, ever stopped being excited about the great promise of America, and I will never stop fighting to make sure that promise is available to everybody.”
In a Dec. 30, 2023, post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Moore shared his appreciation for Miller. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner in this work. Her leadership, expertise, and care is remarkable,” he stated in the post.
As lieutenant governor, Miller’s portfolio includes matters relating to expanding mental health, increasing equity in STEM education and careers, and transportation.
In her first year in office, she visited middle schools and high schools across the state and held listening sessions with students about their mental health and wellness needs.
She serves as chair of the Governor’s Work Zone Safety Work Group, dedicated to making highway work zones safer and protecting the lives of workers, motorists, and law enforcement.
The lieutenant governor also chairs Maryland’s first Council on Interfaith Outreach, which convenes faith leaders from across the state of Maryland to bridge divides, increase religious tolerance, end hate, and better serve all communities.
Additionally, Miller serves as chair of the Overdose Response Advisory Council, which works with a comprehensive set of state agencies and offices to come up with best practices in addressing the overdose and addiction epidemic.
For more than 30 years, she has lived in Montgomery County with her husband David, where they raised three daughters. Miller remains active in the South Asian-American community.
