Diane Edith Watson, was born November 12, 1933 in Los Angeles, California. A Democrat representing Southwest and Central Los Angeles, she earned a BA in Education from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), an MS in School Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Claremont Graduate University. Diane Watson was only the second woman elected to the Senate, and the first African American woman to serve in the legislature’s 40-member upper house. She served as Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee. Her legislative agenda focused on health care with an emphasis on the health needs of poor children. Over an impressive 30year career as a public servant, Diane Watson has served on the Los Angeles School Board, the California State Senate, Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, and in 2001 she was elected to Congress, representing the 33rd District, and served until she retired in 2011. She also founded the National Organization of Black Elected Legislators/Women.