UNH Today

Some might say Carol Shea-Porter’s first political campaign is especially memorable because it carried her into Congress as the first woman ever elected to federal office by the state of New Hampshire. But Carol recalls it fondly for another reason.

“I’m very proud of the fact that we had all volunteers on our first campaign — everybody from the top down was a volunteer. Which makes it somewhat of a miracle, right?” she quips.

That viewpoint highlights one of the significant reasons Carol was such a successful public servant and tireless advocate for the people of the Granite State throughout her career, which included three stints in Congress serving New Hampshire’s first district. Despite any personal accolades, her focus always remained steadfastly on the people — of her state and on her staff.

She remains proud of the fact that she never accepted corporate political action committee (PAC) or D.C. lobbyist money. Some of her greatest successes came in fighting to support the needs of veterans, seniors and working-class citizens of New Hampshire. Among the causes she championed are the advancement of equal rights, access to affordable health care for all, public education and the fight for cleaner air and water in the Granite State.

“One of the things I used to say was that I was in Congress for the bottom 99% of us, and I still feel passionate about that,” Shea-Porter says.

In recognition of that unwavering focus on the people of New Hampshire, Shea-Porter was recognized with the 2024 Charles Holmes Pettee Medal at UNH's annual Evening of Distinction celebration this fall.

Shea-Porter is particularly proud of her work on several committees in Congress, including the Education Labor Committee, the Armed Services Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. She would also serve as an advocate and supporter of the Affordable Care Act, and she founded the Asthma and Allergy Caucus and co-chaired the Mental Health and Addiction Caucus.

Shea-Porter found her way to politics after working in the social services sector, putting to use the social work degree she earned from UNH in 1975 (she added a master’s in public administration in 1979). But she realized quickly that the only way to create real change was to earn an official seat at the table. “If you want to actually make legislation, you need to get in the living room, and to me, Congress was the living room,” she says.

Mission accomplished. Shea-Porter's distinguished career built her an unassailable legacy as a true advocate for all New Hampshire residents.

The Pettee Medal, established in 1940, recognizes "individuals who exhibit the rare devotion to service" that Pettee was known for and is awarded to "a resident or former resident of the state in recognition of outstanding accomplishment or distinguished service in any form to the state, the nation, or the world."