Gayle Wilson
Gayle Wilson | |
---|---|
![]() Official portrait, 1991 | |
33rd First Lady of California | |
In role January 7, 1991 – January 4, 1999 | |
Governor | Pete Wilson |
Preceded by | Gloria Saatjian |
Succeeded by | Sharon Davis |
Personal details | |
Born | Gayle Ann Edlund (1942-11-24) November 24, 1942 (age 81) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Pete Wilson (m. 1983) |
Children | 2 |
Education | Stanford University (BS) |
Gayle Edlund Wilson (born November 24, 1942) is an American business professional, community activist, and the former first lady of California (1991–1999). She is married to former California governor and senator Pete Wilson, with whom she has two sons.
As an activist, Wilson has concentrated her efforts on improving early childhood health and encouraging children in the areas of math and science.[1]
Early life and education
Wilson was born in Phoenix, Arizona. As a teenager in February 1956, she acted in a professional production of A Room Full of Roses opposite Linda Darnell at the Sombrero Playhouse.[2] Wilson competed in the 1960 National Science Talent Search.[3] Wilson attended Stanford University, where she earned a degree in biology and a Phi Beta Kappa key.
Career
First lady of California
As California's first lady, Wilson worked to further her husband's goals of promoting early childhood education. She also helped establish a merit-based California state summer school for math and science, now known as COSMOS.[4] Each summer this four-week residential program located on four University of California campuses serves over 600 high school aged students.[1]
Later career
Wilson is a member of the board of directors of Gilead Sciences and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of California Institute of Technology and Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and she is the chairperson of the Advisory Board and primary fundraiser for COSMOS. She is a former member of the board of ARCO as well as of the Center for Excellence in Education.[citation needed]
Wilson is a past president of the Junior League of San Diego as well as a founding member of the San Diego chapter of ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists).
Since 2011, Wilson has been on the selection committee for the GE Reagan Scholarships.
Personal life
Wilson has two sons and one grandchild.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b "WIC Biography - Gayle Wilson". www.wic.org. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
- ^ Cutts, Anson B. (February 21, 1956). "Linda Darnell Makes Debut". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gayle Wilson".
- ^ "Welcome to COSMOS". Retrieved 2023-10-12.
External links
- Forbes Profile of Gayle Wilson[permanent dead link]
- Gilead Sciences Profile of Gayle Wilson[permanent dead link]
Honorary titles | ||
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Preceded by | First Lady of California January 7, 1991 – January 4, 1999 | Succeeded by |
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- t
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- Harriet Burnett (1849–1851)
- Jane McDougal (1851–1852)
- Elizabeth Bigler (1852–1856)
- Mary Zabriskie Johnson (1856–1858)
- Lizzie Weller (1858–1860)
- Sophie Latham (1860–1860)
- Maria Downey (1860–1862)
- Jane Stanford (1862–1863)
- Mollie Low (1863–1867)
- Anna Haight (1867–1871)
- Mary McIntire Pacheco (1875–1875)
- Amelia Irwin (1875–1880)
- Ruth Amelia Perkins (1880–1883)
- Mary Stoneman (1883–1887)
- Jane Waterman (1887–1891)
- Mary Markham (1891–1895)
- Inez Budd (1895–1899)
- Fannie Gage (1899–1903)
- Helen Pardee (1903–1907)
- Isabella Gillett (1907–1911)
- Minnie Johnson (1911–1917)
- Flora Stephens (1917–1923)
- Augusta Richardson (1923–1927)
- Lyla Young (1927–1932)
- Annie Rolph (1931–1934)
- Jessie Merriam (1936–1939)
- Kate Olson (1939–1939)
- Nina Warren (1943–1953)
- Virginia Knight (1954–1959)
- Bernice Layne Brown (1959–1967)
- Nancy Reagan (1967–1975)
- Gloria Deukmejian (1983–1991)
- Gayle Wilson (1991–1999)
- Sharon Davis (1999–2003)
- Maria Shriver (2003–2011)
- Anne Gust Brown (2011–2019)
- Jennifer Siebel Newsom (2019–)