Angela Monson facts for kids

Angela Z. Monson, born on July 31, 1955, is an important American politician from Oklahoma. She served in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives for District 99 from 1990 to 1993. Later, she was a member of the Oklahoma Senate, representing District 48 from 1993 to 2005.

In 2003, Angela Monson made history. She became the first African American woman to be an assistant majority floor leader in the Oklahoma legislature. This means she helped lead the main political party in the state government. After her time in the state legislature, she also served as the school board chairman for Oklahoma City from 2009 to 2013.

Even though she had planned to retire, Angela Monson works at the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center. She is the Director of Health Policy Development and Analysis. She also teaches as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. She is a member of the OU Medical Center Board of Trustees and the Oklahoma City/County Board of Health.

Early Life and Education

Angela Monson was born in Oklahoma City on July 31, 1955. Her parents were Herman and Epron Monson. She went to public schools in Oklahoma City. She graduated from Douglass High School.

Angela started her college journey at the University of Oklahoma (OU). She received a special scholarship called the President's Leadership Class scholarship. However, OU did not have the specific degree program she wanted. So, she transferred to Oklahoma City University. There, she earned her degree in law enforcement corrections, which is also known as criminal justice.

Starting Her Career

After college, Angela Monson began working as a probation and parole officer. She worked for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in Shawnee, Oklahoma. After one year, she moved back to Oklahoma City.

In Oklahoma City, she worked with an organization called the Council for Resocialization of Ex-Offenders (CREO). This group helped people who had been in trouble with the law get back on their feet. While working there, Angela realized she wanted to do more than just follow laws. She wanted to help create them. This led her to go back to school. She earned her Master's of Science degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma.

After getting her master's degree, Angela Monson worked as a traveling city manager. She helped six towns in Oklahoma, mostly those with African-American populations. Later, she became a fiscal analyst for the state legislature. This meant she helped analyze how the state spent its money.

Angela first ran for a political office in 1984. She lost that election by a small number of votes. After that, she worked selling insurance for the Equitable Life Insurance Company. In 1986, she got a job with the Oklahoma Health Care Campaign. She later became its executive director. She ran for the Oklahoma House of Representatives again in 1988 but was not elected. Finally, in 1990, Angela Monson ran for the legislature once more and was elected.

Political Journey

From 1990 to 1993, Angela Monson served as a legislator in District 99. From 1993 to 2005, she was an Oklahoma senator. She represented District 48, which covers parts of northeastern Oklahoma County.

While in office, Senator Monson worked on many health care bills. She was very involved with the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority. In 1998, the U.S. Secretary of Health, Donna Shalala, chose Monson to be on the National Advisory Council to the National Health Service Corps. Later, she was appointed as the chair of this council until 2002.

From 2002 to 2003, she was the president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). She was the first African-American woman to lead this important organization. In 2003, she also became the first African-American woman to be the assistant majority floor leader in the Oklahoma legislature.

Senate Committees and Roles

During her time as a senator, Angela Monson held several important leadership positions on committees:

• Chair of the Education committee
• Chair of the Finance committee
• Chair of the Appropriations Sub-committee on Group Health and Employee Benefits, and Appropriations
• Vice-Chair of the Sub-Committee on Health and Social Services

The Mental Health Parity Bill

Angela Monson was recognized across the country for her work on the Mental Health Parity Act in 1996. She was the main person who supported a large part of the laws about health care coverage in Oklahoma. With the Mental Health Parity Act, Monson worked to make sure that mental health benefits were included in insurance plans. She wanted these benefits to be for the same amount of money as medical or surgical benefits. This helped make sure mental health care was treated as equally important as physical health care.

Life After Politics

After her time in the senate, Angela Monson began working at the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center. She is the Director of Health Policy Development and Analysis. She is also a member of the OU Medical Center board of trustees. Additionally, she serves on the Oklahoma City/County board of health.

Awards and Service

Angela Monson has received many awards and recognitions for her work 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

Other Resources

• Women of the Oklahoma Legislature Oral History Project -- OSU Library