Diane Watson
Teacher, psychologist, State senator, ambassador, and a member of the U.S. Congress from 2003-2011 representing the 33rd District of California, Diane E. Watson has been a tireless advocate for social improvement.
Watson's lifelong commitment to education stems from her work as an elementary school teacher, school psychologist, and the first African American woman to serve on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. While in the California State Senate, Watson also committed herself to issues of health care, consumer protection, welfare reform, and women's and children's issues.
In 1998, Watson was appointed Ambassador to Micronesia by President Clinton, and in 2003, became a member of the 108th U.S. Congress. Watson was reelected to Congress four times before retiring in 2011. She continues to be a community activist through teaching, mentoring, and leadership.
Video Clips
Biographical Details of Leadership
- Early Teachers and Community
- Influences Outside the Classroom
- Political Mentors: Julian Dixon and Kenny Hahn
- Leadership Across Racial Lines: Kenny Hahn
- Career Shift: From Educator to Politician
- Perseverance Toward Political Office
- Leading by Communicating and Standing Up
- Leadership and Family Responsibility
- Leadership as Problem Solving
- Identity and Representation
Contemporary Lens on Black Leadership
- Education: Gateway to Leadership
- Gender and Race: "Absolutely a black feminist"
- Cultural Comparisons: America and Micronesia
- Vision, Philosophy, and Style: Reading with a Third Eye
- Leadership Development
- Leadership Philosophy
- Political Identity and Race Consciousness
- Leadership Values: Tough Love Versus Compassion
- Leadership Style
- Crisis in Black Leadership
- Creating Global and Local Leaders