Shirley Nash Weber, Ph.D.

Shirley Nash was born in Hope, Arkansas to sharecroppers. She is the sixth of eight children born to the late Mildred and David Nash. By age 26, Shirley Nash was Dr. Shirley N. Weber, with a BA, MA and Ph.D. in the area of speech communication from UCLA, Her specialization is movement studies and Black nationalism. Success began early and dramatically continues for Dr. Shirley Weber.

In 1970, Dr. Weber became one of seventeen Woodrow Wilson fellows out of a class of over 6,000 from UCLA. In 1972, by age 23, she became a professor at San Diego State University. As one of the original faculty members, she has been responsible for the development of the Africana department's curriculum and recruitment of faculty and students. During her administration of the department from 1979-1985 and 1988-91, the department grew in its national reputation as one of the strongest undergraduate Africana Studies department in the country

Shirley Weber was selected Outstanding Young Woman in America twice, 1976 and 1981. Three times she received the SDSU Outstanding Faculty Award, 1981, 1988, 1990. Dr. Weber's success continued.

In fact, in 1988, Dr.Weber was elected to the San Diego Unified School Board where she served two consecutive four year terms until she retired in 1996. During her terms, singular progress was made in a number of areas, including: * An unprecedented number of new schools were built in the inner city--six new schools served low income neighborhoods * Class size was reduced to 25 students by relocating dollars from administration * First nationally mandated parent involvement policy was approved * Lowest drop out rate of any urban school district * Increase in graduation requirements * Core curriculum qualifying all students for university * Increase in SAT scores * Schools receiving national chapter one achieving school awards * Increase in minority and women owned businesses doing business with the district * Grade-level standards adopted ahead of the state * and many more.

For her service, Shirley Weber has received numerous awards from a host of organizations including the NAACP, Urban League, Negro Business and Professional Women, California Women in Government, National Council of Black Studies, National Women's Political Caucus and many more too numerous to note.

An internationally recognized lecturer and writer, Dr. Weber also hosted her own talk show. She is married to a judge and is the mother of two children-a college freshman and a sophomore in high school.

Women's International Center proudly presents the 1997 Living Legacy Award to a woman who contributions to education, justice and humanity have a positive and an enduring impact on thousands worldwide, Dr. Shirley Nash Weber. learn more

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