PROFILES IN PUBLIC SERVICE - ANGELA MONSON

Profiles in Public Service - Angela Monson

Angela Monson is a political pioneer.  She was elected chairman of the Oklahoma City School Board in 2009.  Previously, she served in the Oklahoma State Senate from 1993 to 2005 as first assistant majority floor leader, chair of the Senate Education Committee, chair of the Finance Commit­tee, and chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Group Health and Em­ployee Benefits. She was a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from November 1990 until her election to the Senate. While a senator, Monson became the first black woman to serve as presi­dent of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Monson also is associate provost for community partnerships and health policy at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.  She is considered one of the nation's top authorities on national health policy Read More »

 
 

"Government service is a noble calling and a public trust.  There is no higher honor than to serve free men and women, no greater privilege than to labor in government."  - George H.W. Bush, 1989 first public speech as president

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News & Announcements

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News about Stennis Center

STENNIS FELLOWS DISCUSS HISTORY OF PARTISANSHIP IN CONGRESS WITH PANEL OF EXPERTS

On December 7, 2009, Stennis Fellows from the 111th Congress held a roundtable discussion at the National Archives with former Congressman Mickey Edwards, Sarah Binder, professor at George Washington University and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Pat Griffin, former congressional staff member, Administration official, and lobbyist to explore the historical development of partisanship in Congress.  This roundtable was the first in a series of discussions the Fellows will have over the coming year as they examine the broad theme of their fellowship: Balancing Governing Responsibility and Campaign Politics.  Read more on the Stennis Fellows program.

SOUTHERN WOMEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE REGIONAL ROUNDTABLE IN STONE MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA 

Power, personality and potential were on display as the Stennis Center convened more than 30 women leaders from Florida, Georgia and South Carolina to discuss ways to encourage, promote and strengthen women's leadership in the South. The Southern Women in Public Service Regional Roundtable was an intensive 24-hour program on October 29-30, 2009 in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Florida, Georgia and South Carolina rank 25, 38 and 50 respectively in the percentage of women in state legislatures, a key barometer of women's political leadership.

Led by professional facilitator Carole Leland, participants worked in small groups to determine where we have come from regarding women's political leadership, where we are now, where should we go and finally how do we get there with purpose, planning and action.  Former West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland and Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, set the tone with opening remarks on the importance of women's leadership.  Participants included mostly women serving as state legislators, along with a mixture of others in public service.  In addition, female college students with an interest in becoming leaders also were involved in the discussions.

USS STENNIS AND USS EISENHOWER LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNERS VISIT D.C.

On October 19 & 20, the USS STENNIS and USS EISENHOWER leadership award winners toured Washington, D.C., where they met with Members of Congress, congressional staff and other civilian leaders.  The trip is a part of the Stennis Center's continuing effort to strengthen understanding and relationships between civilian leaders and the military.  As the leadership award winners are honored and learn about how policy is made in Washington, the civilian leaders have an opportunity to learn about the life, values, culture and institutions of the military through visits with the leadership award winners and their family members.  Including family members in discussions with leaders in Washington helps further understanding of contributions made by the family members of those who serve in the American military.

Click here to read more about the Stennis Center's Leadership Award Program with eight of the Navy's aircraft carriers.

111th CONGRESSIONAL STENNIS FELLOWS RETREAT IN SHEPHERDSTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA

The 111th Congressional Stennis Fellows gathered in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, for a workshop on "Dialogue Essentials" and to finalize their learning agenda for the coming year.  The workshop focused on providing interactive efforts to apply dialogue to practical problem solving and a powerful way to find common ground.  Before the retreat concluded, the Fellows finalized their learning agenda that will be used as a basis to organize a number of roundtables with outside experts between December and April. 

2009 STENNIS NOVICE SPEECH & DEBATE TOURNAMENT HELD ON MSU CAMPUS

Over 250 high school students came together September 11-12, 2009, on the campus of Mississippi State University to compete in the Stennis Novice Speech & Debate Tournament.  The tournament provides a level playing field
for students who are just beginning to compete in speech and debate.  The participants from Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee build confidence and hone their speaking skills before they compete against more experienced
students later in the school year.  Students who master debate skills are more likely to consider public office as adults.  The Stennis Center is proud to sponsor this annual tournament for the 14th year.


2009 USS STENNIS FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED

 Erin Walker and Aimee Gray, both of Bremerton, Washington, are the 2009 recipients of the USS STENNIS Family Scholarship.  John C. Stennis Center for Public Service awards the scholarships on an annual basis to children and spouses of crewmembers of the USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) aircraft carrier.  Recipients of the award are students planning to dedicate themselves to a life of public service.

Currently a student at Chapman University, Walker is majoring in the field of psychology.  She is actively involved in the USS John C. Stennis Family Readiness Group and Officer Spouse Group.  After graduation, Walker plans to pursue a master's degree and enter the field of counseling.  Her career ambition is to work intimately with military families and currently gains valuable experience as a volunteer with the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society.

Walker is the wife of Lieutenant Nicholas Walker of Bremerton, Washington.  LT Walker currently serves on the USS Stennis in the Aircraft Integrated Maintenance Operations (AIMO) IM4 division.

A leader at Klahowya Secondary School, Gray served as cheerleading captain, National Honor Society public relations officer, and Pep Club treasurer.  In addition to her 4.0 GPA, she received many academic awards including the AP Scholar Award, Rotary Student of the Month, and five academic letters.  This fall, Gray will continue her education at the University of Evansville in Indiana where she will pursue a secondary education degree in science.

Gray is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Warren Gray of Bremerton, Washington.  MCPO Gray currently serves in the USS Stennis' Combat Systems department as a Master Chief Petty Officer.



2009 STENNIS STUDENT CONGRESS HELD IN BIRMINGHAM & 2009 HAROLD KELLER WINNER ANNOUNCED

On June 15th -19th, the Stennis Center sponsored the John C. Stennis National Student Congress as part of the National Forensic League's (NFL) National Speech Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama.  During the week, the country's top high school debaters assembled to compete for the honor of the nation's best.  

Since 2007, the Stennis Center has awarded the Harold Keller Public Service Leadership Award during the national tournament.  The award honors an individual who has successfully applied lessons learned through Student Congress to become an effective leader in public service. The recipient at the 2009 NFL Tournament was Joshua Segall, an attorney in Montgomery, Alabama, and the Democratic nominee for Alabama's 3rd congressional seat in 2008.

FRESHMAN SENATORS MEET WITH ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE OF JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

 On June 8th, eight freshman United States Senators and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff gathered in the United State Capitol for a dinner discussion sponsored by the Stennis Center.  Led by U.S. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the event provided an opportunity for freshman Senators and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to get to know each other through an informal discussion focused on the military. This program is part of the Stennis Center's ongoing work to bring together civilian and military leaders to develop relationships and understanding that will strengthen national security leadership.  Freshman Senators participating in the program were: Senator Mark Begich of Alaska, Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, Senator Roland Burris of Illinois, Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Senator Ted Kaufman of Delaware, Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Senator Mark Udall of Colorado and Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico.