Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 79

Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D

Born to sharecroppers of Hope, Arkansas, Shirley Nash (Weber) has lived in California since the age of 3. Educated in inner-city public schools, she graduated with honors and entered 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 SDSU. While a student at UCLA, she worked as a case worker for the Episcopal City Mission Society serving the aged and indigents.As a professor, she was instrumental in developing a new discipline and became department chairperson.

Dr. Weber has lived in the 79th Assembly District for over 30 years. Her children attended public school in the district and she was elected to the school board to represent much of the district. As a board member and subsequent board president, she became known for her advocacy for closing the achievement gap and a higher standard of excellence for all children. During her terms on the board, dropout rates decreased and high school achievement among African American males and Hispanic females (two targeted groups) rose. Additionally, the board placed a successful initiative on the ballot that built new schools in older, overcrowded neighborhoods.

She was selected to service on the National Alliance for Restructuring Schools and became the national Vice Chairperson of this multi-million dollar initiative. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton served on the Alliance board, which was able to assist then-Governor Bill Clinton in bringing needed reform to Arkansas schools.

For her humanitarian work, Dr. Weber has received hundreds of awards from a wide range of organizations too numerous to name. 2006, Dr. Weber was appointed to the Board of Directors of Southwestern Christian College, an HBCU in Terrell, Texas. In 2009, she was selected as the SDSU's Top 25 honored by SDSU President Stephen Weber. 2005-2006, Dr. Weber hosted a popular weekly radio program weekly entitled "It's a New Day with Dr. Shirley Weber" on KURS AM 1040. The program was broadcast live throughout San Diego and internationally over the internet. In 2006, she aired her program live from Johannesburg, South Africa, sharing her student's perspectives and those of the local South African. Dr. Weber lectures widely throughout the United States, Caribbean and Africa.

She served as the mayor's appointee and Chair on the Citizens' Equal Opportunity Commission. She has served on the Board of the NAACP, YWCA,YMCA Scholarship Committee, Battered Women Services, United Way, San Diego Consortium and Private Industry Council, and many more. Her work has touched the lives of thousands of young people throughout the county.

Dr. Weber is the mother of two children: Akilah, a medical doctor in Dallas, TX, and Akil, a college student in San Diego. Dr. Weber is the widow of the late Honorable Daniel Weber, a California state judge. Her hobbies include reading and sewing.