Angela Monson

Angela Z. Monson (born July 31, 1955) is an American politician from Oklahoma who served in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives, representing District 99 from 1990–1993, as well as the Oklahoma Senate, representing District 48 from 1993–2005. In 2003, she became the first African American woman assistant majority floor leader in the Oklahoma legislature. Monson defeated incumbent Kirk Humphreys, a former Oklahoma City mayor, for the school board chairman's position in 2009, serving until 2013.

Early life Angela Monson was born on July 31, 1955, to parents Herman and Epron Monson in Oklahoma City. Monson was educated in Oklahoma City public schools and graduated from Douglass High School. Monson attended her first year at the University of Oklahoma (OU) on a President's Leadership Class scholarship. Since OU did not have the degree program she desired, Monson transferred to Oklahoma City University where she received her undergraduate degree in law enforcement corrections (criminal justice).

Career After graduation, Monson worked as a probation/parole officer for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in Shawnee, Oklahoma. After a year in Shawnee, Monson returned to Oklahoma City, where she worked with the Council for Resocialization of Ex-Offenders (CREO), a community corrections organization. While serving in this role, Monson decided she did not only want to implement the law, but instead wanted to help make the law. She returned to school and received her Master's of Science in public administration from the University of Oklahoma.

Post-political career After her time in the senate, Monson became employed by the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center as Director of Health Policy Development and Analysis. She is also a member of the OU Medical Center board of trustees, and the Oklahoma City/County board of health. Has planned to retire after 2018.

Achievements and service Executive Director of the Oklahoma Health Care Project (1986-1990) Member of the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care Oklahoma Afterschool Network Chairperson Girl Scouts Redland Council Board of Directors member Legislative Health Champion Award by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma Distinguished Legislator of the Year Award: American Psychiatric Association Legislator of the Year: Oklahoma Public Employees Association, the Oklahoma Psychological Association, the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and PHRMA Advocate of the Year by the Families USA Foundation University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumnus Award Woman of the Year in Government by the Redlands Council of Girl Scouts Oklahoma Child Advocacy's Children's Hall of Fame inductee Friends of Children Award from the Oklahoma Association for the Education of Young Children Recipient of the Silver Banner Award from the Tuscan government (2003) Recognized by the Brazilian government for her work with women's rights in that country Kate Barnard Award Recipient (2006) Trustee of the Sickle Cell Cure Foundation