According to interviews in a new article from Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Shalala has an impressive history of leadership, even before she ventured into politics.

Among old colleagues and friends of Shalala interviewed is Gloria Ladson-Billings, a recently retired professor with the School of Education. Ladson-Billings had taught with the departments of Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Policy Studies, and Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis since transferring to UW–Madison at Shalala’s persuasion in 1991. Before moving on to serving as the president of the National Academy of Education, Ladson-Billing held the Kellner Family Distinguished Chair in Urban Education at UW–Madison.

Through all her achievements, Ladson-Billings cites Shalala as a mentor who helped not only her, but many other “women and minorities gain employment, tenure and advancement” in higher education.

Ladson-Billing tells Divers Issues that she remembers fondly her time under Shalala’s tutelage, referring to herself and a group of black women faculty members at UW–Madison as “the Class of Shalala.” She recalls the former chancellor’s determination to create a diverse faculty at UW–Madison, describing how Shalala recruited her away from a teaching position at Santa Clara University, and created within this group a network of support for black female faculty members.

Many of Shalala’s former “students,” including Ladson-Billings, reflect on her strong leadership and predict great endeavors and development in diversity during her time as a Florida Congresswomen.

To learn more, check out the article on this Diverse Issues web page.