Personal Information
Senator Kiana Maria Sears proudly serves as the highest-ranking African American officeholder in Arizona and is the only Black member of the Arizona State Senate. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Arizona Black Caucus, where she advances policies rooted in justice, opportunity, and community well-being.
A respected civil rights and community leader, Senator Sears has dedicated her career to public service, education, and advocacy for society’s most vulnerable, including children, seniors, neurodiverse individuals, and the Black community. Prior to her election to the State Senate, she made history as the first Black person and person of color elected to the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board, Arizona’s largest school district, serving two impactful terms.
Senator Sears’ leadership has earned national recognition, including Essence magazine’s prestigious “Shirley Chisholm Award” for her historic party nomination and statewide campaign for the Arizona Corporation Commission. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University (ASU) and is the founder of ASU’s RISE Leadership Institute, which uplifts and prepares Black and African American scholars for collegiate success.
A longtime Mesa resident with deep roots in New Orleans, Senator Sears is also an accomplished public speaker and co-author of the award-winning book Empowering Women to Succeed by Turning Tragedy into Triumph . Her lifelong aspiration is to serve as a diplomat to a Sub-Saharan African or African diasporan nation.
State senators serve in their state's upper legislative chamber. Responsibilities include drafting and voting on state laws, representing their district, confirming gubernatorial appointments, and shaping the state budget. State senators typically serve longer terms than state representatives and represent larger districts. State legislation covers education, healthcare, infrastructure, criminal justice, and taxation.