Penelope Tsernoglou

Penelope Tsernoglou is a Democratic politician from Michigan serving in the Michigan House of Representatives. Born on July 2, 1979, in Southfield, she grew up in the Metro Detroit area and attended Southfield Public Schools. She is married to Steve Ross and has a child named Lillian.

Tsernoglou represents Michigan's 75th House District, which encompasses parts of Clinton, Ingham, and Shiawassee Counties, including communities such as Ovid, St. Johns, East Lansing, and several townships. She is currently serving her second term, having been elected in 2022 and reelected in 2024.

Education

Tsernoglou graduated from Southfield High School in 1997. She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan with majors in psychology and sociology in 2001. She received her Juris Doctor from the Detroit College of Law in 2004.

Political Experience

Before her election to the Michigan House, Tsernoglou devoted much of her career to public service. She worked as a victims advocate for End Violent Encounters , Lansing's first shelter for survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault. Through this role, she worked at the Personal Protection Order office and the Domestic Violence Support Unit in the Ingham County Sheriff's Office. She later practiced as a defense attorney representing indigent defendants and juveniles in Ingham and Eaton Counties.

Tsernoglou served three terms on the Ingham County Commission from 2010 to 2016, where she led efforts resulting in two transformative millages that raised over $20 million for countywide trail improvements and $7 million for a new animal shelter. She has also served on various boards including the Community Development Block Grant subcommittee and the Tri-County Aging Consortium.

In the Michigan House, Tsernoglou serves as Chair of the Committee on Elections and Minority Vice Chair of the State and Local Assistance Programs Oversight Subcommittee. Her legislative priorities include expanding fair ballot access, advocating for labor unions and working families, increasing health care access, reforming the criminal justice system, protecting Michigan's environment, preventing gun violence, and supporting public education.