PROMINENT ALUMNI

Dr. Diane E. Watson,
California Congresswoman

In 1975, Congresswoman Watson became the first African-American woman to serve on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. Three years later, she joined the California State Senate where she was chosen to chair, from 1981 to 1998, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. She also served on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

As a State senator, Watson became a statewide and national advocate for health care, consumer protection, women, and children. She authored the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program Act, which led to pioneering research into the causes of birth defects, and the Residential Care Facilities Act, to ensure that senior citizens receive quality care in nursing and assisted living homes. She also played a key role in the enactment of legislation to promote breast cancer research. Additionally, Watson was an advocate for commonsense welfare reform; played a major role in formulating the state of California’s TANF program; and sought funding to help teen mothers complete their education and gain jobs through the Cal-Learn program.

In 1998, Watson became the US Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia until 2001 when she was sworn in as a Member of Congress for the 33rd California Congressional District after the death of Congressman Julian Dixon. In January 2003, Congresswoman Watson was sworn in as a member of the 108th Congress.