Barbara Jordan National Forum Honorary Keynote: Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson

2313 Red River Street,Austin TX 78705

21 February, 2023

Description

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson joins the LBJ School as its Barbara Jordan Forum keynote. Congresswoman Johnson served 15 terms in the U.S. Congress representing the 30th Congressional District of Texas. She has a reputation as a stateswoman who works with both parties to get things done – one earned during her more than 40 years in public office. She is recognized as one of the most effective legislators in Congress, credited with authoring and co-authoring more than 300 bills passed by the House and Senate and signed into law. Congresswoman Johnson was the first Registered Nurse elected to the U.S. Congress and the first African American and female to chair the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Congresswoman Johnson will receive the Barbara Jordan Public Service Award, which honors a trailblazer and leader who represents Barbara Jordan’s voice, legacy and unwavering commitment to building community through activism and public service. About Eddie Bernice JohnsonCongresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson served 15th terms in the U.S. Congress representing the 30th Congressional District of Texas. She is the first African American and female to chair the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and was the Dean of the Texas Congressional Delegation. She was also Dean of the Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona Democratic Congressional Delegation, the highest-ranking Texan on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and was the first Registered Nurse elected to the U.S. Congress. She began her career as the first female African American Chief Psychiatric Nurse at the V.A. Hospital in Dallas. In 1972, she became the first Registered Nurse elected to the Texas State House and achieved the same distinction upon her election to the Texas Senate in 1986. From 2011 to 2018, she served as the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s first African American and female Ranking Member. Congresswoman Johnson has a reputation as a stateswoman who works with both parties to get things done – one earned during her more than 40 years in public office. She is recognized as one of the most effective legislators in Congress, credited with authoring and co-authoring more than 300 bills passed by the House and Senate and signed into law. She was also the founder of the Congressional Diversity & Innovation Caucus, the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Homelessness Caucus, co-chair of the Congressional Lupus Caucus, and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus of Bosnia. She was honored to serve as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus during the 107th Congress. Her acclaimed initiative, A World of Women for World Peace, has gained national and international recognition. Congresswoman Johnson is the proud mother of her son, Kirk, who is married to Sondra Johnson, and has three grandchildren, Kirk Jr., David, and James. About Sonal ShahSonal Shah is the chief executive officer at The Texas Tribune. She has started and led social impact efforts in academia, government, and the private and philanthropic sectors for over 25 years. Previously, she served as interim executive vice president at United Way Worldwide. Sonal founded The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) in Houston and founded and led Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation. Her background in government and policy include leading the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation in the Obama administration, serving as an international economist at the Department of the Treasury, and as policy director for Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign. In the private sector, Sonal led Goldman Sachs' environmental strategy and Google's global technology and impact investment initiatives. Sonal grew up in Houston, earned a B.A. in economics from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in economics from Duke University.