Celebrating Angela Monson’s Achievements – Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, the Oklahoma Democratic Party celebrates the achievements of Angela Monson, the first African-American woman assistant majority floor leader in the Oklahoma legislature.

After graduating from Oklahoma City University with a degree in criminal justice, Monson went on to earn her Masters of Science in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma. She also worked for the Oklahoma Department of Correction in Shawnee and as a traveling city manager in Oklahoma before pursuing a career in politics.

Monson was elected to the House of Representatives in 1990 for District 99 and served as an Oklahoma Senator for District 48 from 1993 to 2005. In 2003 Monson became the first African-American woman to fill the role of assistant majority floor leader in the Oklahoma legislature. She also served on numerous committees to include Chair of Education, Chair of Finance, Chair of the Appropriations Sub-committee on Group Health and Employee Benefits, and Appropriations, and Vice-Chair of the Sub-Committee on Health and Social Services.

Largely involved with the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority, Monson sponsored many health care bills and was nationally recognized for her involvement with the Mental Health Parity Act. After serving in the Senate, Monson began her work as the Director of Health Policy Development and Analysis for the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center and is a member of the OU Medical Center board of trustees. She has been recognized as Legislator and Woman of the Year in Government and received the Silver Banner Award from the Tuscan government, Kate Barnard Award, and Friends of Children Award.