Senator, Minnesota State Senate, District 65, 1990-present

Candidate, Minnesota State Senate, District 65, 2022

President, Minnesota State Senate, District 65, 2013-2016

President Pro Tem, Minnesota State Senate, District 65, 2003-2004

Candidate, Mayor of Saint Paul, 1997

Representative, Minnesota House of Representatives, 1985-1990

Chair, Capital Investment Committee

Member, Finance Committee

Member, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee

Member, Labor Committee

Member, Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement

Member, Minnesota State Capitol Preservation Commission

Member, Subcommittee on Ethnic Councils

Former Member, Commerce Committee, Minnesota State Senate

Member, Federal Budget and Tax Committee, National Conference of State Legislators

Former Member, Finance Committee, Minnesota State Senate

Commissioner, Mississippi River Coordinating Commission

Member, Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Minnesota

Former Member, Rules and Administration Committee, Minnesota Senate

Former Chair, Social Action Committee, Shir Tikvah Congregation

Former Member, State and Local Government Committee, Minnesota State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Ethnic Councils, Minnesota State House of Representatives

Arts Organizer, Community Programs in the Arts

Employee, Noble Birth Resource Center

Employee, Noble Birth Retail Store

Communications Specialist, West 7th Communications Center

Member, Alumni Association Board, Metropolitan State University, 2005-2008

Vice Chair, World Without Genocide, 2014-present

President and Co-Founder, Forward Global Women, 2001-present

Member, Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board

Founder, Center for True Economic Progress

Member, Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans

Member, Council on Black Minnesotans

Member, Economic Status of Women’s Legislative Advisory Group

Director, Great North American History Theatre

Member, Indian Affairs Council

Member, Metropolitan State Alumni Board

Co-Chair, Midwest Progressive Elected Officials Network

Minnesota Commissioner, Midwestern Higher Education Compact

Director, Minnesota Children's Museum

Board Member, Mississippi Riverfront Corporation

Board Member, Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation

Vice President, Women’s Legislators Lobby

Board Member, World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association

Commissioner, Education Commission on the States, 2002

Awards:

Political Excellence Award
Women Candidate Development Coalition
2010

B. Robert Lewis Award
Minnesota Public Health Association
2010

Senator Paul Simon Award
Central States Conference on Teaching of Foreign Languages
2008

Recognition for Providing Access to Higher Education Opportunities
Latino Scholarship Fund
2008

Legislator of the Year
Minnesota State College Student Association
2008

Recognition for being a Legislative Champion for Minnesota Biomedical Research Program
University of Minnesota: Alumni Association
2008

Legislator of the Year
Minnesota Association of Professional Employees
2007

Champion for Student Access to Higher Education Award
Minnesota College Career Association
2007

Perfect Score Award
Conservation MN
2007

Legislator of the Year
University of Minnesota: Alumni Association
2007

Recognition for Leadership and Outstanding Efforts
Jewish Family Service of St. Paul
2007

Legislator of the Year
Minnesota Association of Professional Employees
2007

Champion for Student Access to Higher Education Award
Minnesota College Career Association
2007

Recognized for supporting Freedom to Breathe Act
Smoke-Free Ramsey and The Association for Non-smokers-MN
2007

Recognition of Appointment
Midwestern Higher Education Compact
2005

National Family Week Advocacy Award
Family and Children Services
2006

Friend of Higher Education Award
Minnesota Conference of the American Association of University Professors
2006

Legislator of the Year
Allina Hospitals and Clinics
2005

Pro Lingua Award
Minnesota Council on the Teaching of Languages and Cultures
2005

Alumni of the Year Award
Metropolitan State University
2003

Senator of the Year
Minnesota State College Student Association
2003

Women of Vision and Courage Award
Metropolitan State University
2003

WiLL Pacesetter Award
Women Legislators' Lobby
2001

Leadership in Economic and Social Justice Award
Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action
1999

Recognition for Authoring Loa Veteran License Plate Bill
Loa Veterans of America, Inc.
1995

Number of Grandchildren:

26