Pub. 4 2015-2016 Issue 3

Winter 2016 23 LEGISLATURE PROFILE: Shirley Weber A ssembly Member Shirley Nash Weber was elected in November of 2012 to represent California's 79th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Chula Vista, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City and San Diego. Weber Chairs the Assembly Committee on Budget, Assembly Select Committee on Higher Education in San Diego County; and the Assembly Select Committee on Campus Climate. She also serves on the Assembly committees on Education, Higher Education and Appropriations. Born to sharecroppers fromHope, Arkansas, ShirleyWeber has lived in California since the age of 3. Her parents, in particular her father, valued education and supported their daughter's academic aspirations. She attended UCLA, where she received her BA, MA and PhD by the age of 26. Prior to receiving her doctorate, she became a professor at San Diego State University at the age of 23. Dr. Weber also taught at California State University at Los Angeles and Los Angeles City College before coming to San Diego State University. Weber has lived in the 79th Assembly District for over 30 years. Deeply committed to community service, she served on the boards of the NAACP, the YWCA, the YMCA Scholarship Committee, Battered Women Services, United Way and the San Diego Consortium. She eventually made a successful run for a seat on the board of the San Diego Unified School District. As a trustee and subsequent school board president, she became known for her advocacy for closing the achievement gap and setting a higher standard of excellence for all children. As an Assemblymember, Weber has translated her commitment to education into her ambitious legislative agenda. During her freshmen year in the California State Legislature, five of seven of her successful bills were related to education, including ACR 45 urging lawmakers and the governor to restore funding to early childhood education; AB 56 requiring standards for installing carbonmonoxide devices in schools, and AB 899 linking English language. Bills signed in 2014 include legislation addressing civil rights, education, protections for person with disabilities and voting rights. Her Select Committee on Campus Climate has been exploring some of the racial incidents on state university campuses, the responses from university officials, and possible policy changes to make the campuses safer and more welcoming for all students. She is also outspoken on the importance of investing in early childhood education as a means of preventing drop-out rates, dependence on social services, incarceration and unemployment. Assembly Member Weber is the mother of a daughter and son, and has two grandchildren. She is the widow of the late Honorable Daniel Weber, a California state judge.