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.