Title: Congresswoman
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States

Ambassador Diane E. Watson, retired California congresswoman, has been recognized by Marquis Who's Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in government service and education.

The Honorable Diane E. Watson began her career in civil service as a representative for California's State Senate District 30 from 1978 and 1982. She went on to represent District 28 from 1982 to 1990 and District 26 from 1994 to 1998. Building on her experience teaching in Japan and Micronesia, Dr. Watson was appointed U.S. ambassador to Micronesia for the U.S. Department of State in 1998. Returning to California in 2001, she represented the state's 32nd District, 33rd, and 37th Districts before her retirement in 2011. As the first African American woman to be elected to the California State Senate, she is proud to have played a major role in crafting legislation such as the TANF program, the Cal-Learn program, California Birth Defects Monitoring Program Act and the Residential Care Facilities Act.

Dr. Watson earned an Associate of Arts from Los Angeles City College in 1954, a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of California Los Angeles in 1956 and was awarded her Master of Arts in school psychology by California State University in 1958. In 1987, Dr. Watson completed her Ph.D. in educational administration at Claremont Graduate University. Before entering politics, Dr. Watson enjoyed nearly two decades as a teacher, administrator and school psychologist for the Los Angeles Unified School District. She has been a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and was the first Black woman to sit on the Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

For her contributions to the community, Dr. Watson has been honored with accolades including an Appreciation Award from Operation Confidence, the California Legislative Black Caucus Award, the NAACP Proclamation of Achievement Award, the Brotherhood Crusade Award and the Mary Church Terrell Award. In addition, she was included in the Ebony Magazine Power 150, named Alumnus of the Year at UCLA and recognized for her work within the County of Los Angeles by the Black Women Public Policy Institute.

 

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