Senator Shirley K. Turner ** represents **New Jersey's 15th Legislative District. Elected to the New Jersey State Senate in 1997, she currently serves as president pro tempore and is the first woman and first African-American to hold that position. Born July 3, 1941, she has a long record of bipartisan legislative achievements focused on child welfare, education, public health, government reform, and economic development, including laws mandating child safety as paramount in placements outside the home, criminal background checks for childcare and school staff, enhanced school bus safety, expanded scholarships for college students, nutrition standards and eye exams for students, mentoring programs for at-risk youth, drug courts for non-violent offenders, and clean elections pilot programs.

Education and Political Experience

Education

• BS in Education, Trenton State College
• MA in Guidance and Counseling, Rider University
• Postgraduate studies, Rutgers University
• Retired from Rider University after 44 years of service

Political Experience

• Senator, New Jersey State Senate, District 15 ; President Pro Tempore
• Assembly Member, New Jersey State Assembly ; Associate Minority Leader
• Mercer County Board of Freeholders ; Vice President
• Chair, Mercer County Democratic Committee
• Lawrence Township Zoning Board
• Mercer County Improvement Authority
• Teacher, Trenton Public Schools

Notable Positions and Service

• Commissioner, Education Commission of the States
• Vice Chair, New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus
• Member, New Jersey Women's Legislative Caucus
• Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect
• State Council for Adult Literacy Education Services
• Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Commission
• Senate Education Committee; Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee