Angela Z. Monson

Angela Monson "has been engaged in activities related to health care policy for more than 25 years. She is currently employed by the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center as Director of Health Policy Development and Analysis.  Responsible to the Provost and Senior Vice President of the Health Sciences Center, Monson provides expertise to advance the understanding of health care policies and initiatives and their impact on areas such as health care access, financing, quality, delivery systems, health disparities, and health status.   She also serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.

"Monson is also a member of the OU Medical Center Board of Trustees (a hospital board) and is also a member of the Oklahoma City/County Board of Health.

"A member of the Oklahoma State Senate from 1993 until November, 2005 and the Oklahoma House of Representatives from November 1990 until her election to the State Senate, Monson was the primary sponsor or co-sponsor of much of the legislation pertaining to health care coverage, financing and delivery systems in Oklahoma, and was one of the chief architects of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the state’s Medicaid agency. In the State Senate, Monson served as First Assistant Majority Floor Leader, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, Chair of the Finance Committee, Chair of the Appropriations Sub-committee on Group Health and Employee Benefits, and Appropriations Vice-Chair of the Sub-Committee on Health and Social Services.

"Sen. Monson is a past president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and also served as chair of the NCSL Health Committee and as a member of the NSCL Executive Committee. During her tenure as Health Committee Chair, Monson was instrumental in developing the Conference’s position and actions on the Tobacco Settlement between the states’ attorneys general and the tobacco companies. Monson has also testified before Congressional Committees on various topics including Medicaid and the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.  She was also a member of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Executive Committee.

"Nationally, Monson served as a member of the Steering Committee of the Reforming States Group, a Milbank Memorial Fund health care initiative, and was also a board member of the Public Health Law Association.  In 1998, Monson was appointed to the National Advisory Council to the National Health Service Corps by then Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala.  Senator Monson was later appointed chair of the Council and served in that capacity until the spring of 2002 when her term on the Council expired.  Sen. Monson was recently appointed to her second, 3 year term as a member of the Board of Directors of the Families USA Foundation.

"Employed as the first Executive Director of the Oklahoma Health Care Project (1986-1990), Monson was responsible for the development of a statewide coalition of organizations which addressed health care access and financing issues. The 100 plus member coalition, representing both public and private interests, was responsible for initiating several reforms resulting in the first major expansion of Medicaid coverage for children and women in Oklahoma. As Executive Director of the Project, Monson assisted several rural organizations in maintaining local health care delivery systems, provided focus on health care access limitations for many special needs populations, and worked with national organizations to develop alternative strategies for health care financing.

"In addition to health care policy, Monson has also made a statewide and national impact in the area of tax reform. As Senator she served as Co-Chair of the Streamline Sales Tax Implementing States, a recognized group of almost 40 states and the District of Columbia established to develop a simplified and uniform process to collect taxes.  Under Monson’s leadership, the organization was able to formulate an Agreement to implement a voluntary tax collection and remittance system for remote sales.  The Agreement became operational in October, 2005, and participating states comprise a nationally recognized interstate tax related entity.

"Monson also served as a member of the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care, working with members of the judicial branch, executive branch and former members of Congress to develop recommendations regarding improvements in state and federal foster care and adoption systems.

"Monson is a graduate of Oklahoma City University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Corrections from that institution and also received a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma at Norman. She has been employed in various capacities during her professional career, including fiscal analyst for the Oklahoma State Legislature, municipal management consultant for the East Central Rural Municipal Area Council, and as a probation and parole officer for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

"As a community activist, Monson has worked with elementary schools, churches and other community organizations providing technical support and assistance to many after school programs and other school related initiatives. She currently serves as the Oklahoma Afterschool Network Chairperson and is a member of the Girl Scouts Redland Council Board of Directors.

"Monson has been an active member of many community based organizations and previously served as President of the Oklahoma City Branch of the NAACP, and Board Chair of the Mary Mahoney Community Health Center, the Lennie Marie Tolliver Alternative Care (Adult Day Care) Center, and the Neighborhood Services Organization. Additionally, Sen. Monson was among the first youth Board members of the Oklahoma City Urban League. She is an active member of the Voice of Praise Baptist Church, where she serves as Trustee, Music Coordinator and a choir director.

"The recipient of many honors and awards, Monson was presented the first Legislative Health Champion Award by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma along with other sponsoring entities. She also received the Distinguished Legislator of the Year Award from the American Psychiatric Association and was named Legislator of the Year by the Oklahoma Public Employees Association, the Oklahoma Psychological Association, the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and PHRMA.  Additionally, she was named Advocate of the Year by the Families USA Foundation.

"Sen. Monson also received the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumnus Award and was recognized as the Woman of the Year in Government by the Redlands Council of Girl Scouts. She was among the first group of inductees to the Oklahoma Child Advocacy’s Children’s Hall of Fame and received the Friends of Children Award from the Oklahoma Association for the Education of Young Children.   Monson was also selected as a Journal Record Woman of the Year finalist in 2005.

"In 2003, Monson was recognized in Italy by the Tuscan regional government for her work in human rights and leadership of the National Conference of State Legislature. She was the recipient of the Silver Banner Award, the highest honor conferred by the Tuscan government. Additionally, Monson was honored by the Brazilian government for her work with women’s rights organizations in that country."

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * Center for Women Policy Studies