| Tina Courpas | |
| State House: | Connecticut |
| District: | 149th |
| Term Start: | January 2025 |
| Predecessor: | Rachel Khanna |
| Birth Name: | Katherine Ann Courpas |
| Birth Date: | 4 July 1966 |
| Birth Place: | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Party: | Republican |
| Education: | Princeton University (AB) Columbia University (JD) |
| Constituency: | Represented Greenwich and Stamford |
| Residence: | Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S. |
Katherine Ann "Tina" Courpas (formerly Salame;[1] in English pronounced as /kuʁ.pɑ/ ; 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]
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]
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]
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.
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;
Courpas resides in Greenwich, Connecticut.[16]