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 Peter Barton Wilson (born August 23, 1933) is an American attorney and politician who served as governor of California from 1991 to 1999. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, Wilson previously served as a United S ...

, 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.

Early life and education

Wilson was born in

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...

. As a teenager in February 1956, she acted in a professional production of ''A Room Full of Roses'' opposite

Linda Darnell Linda Darnell (born Monetta Eloyse Darnell; October 16, 1923 – April 10, 1965) was an American actress. Darnell progressed from modelling as a child to acting in theatre and film. At the encouragement of her mother, she made her first film in ...

at the

Sombrero Playhouse The Sombrero Playhouse was a regional theatre in Phoenix, Arizona. It was built in March 1949, the first legitimate professional theater in Phoenix, though the city did have a long tradition of Little Theater. Major Broadway and Hollywood star ...

. Wilson competed in the 1960 National Science Talent Search. Wilson attended

Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...

, where she earned a degree in biology and a

Phi Beta Kappa The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States. It was founded in 1776 at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, ...

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. Each summer this four-week residential program located on four

University of California The University of California (UC) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university, research university system in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Oakland, California, Oakland, the system is co ...

campuses serves over 600 high school aged students.

Later career

Wilson is a member of the

board of directors A board of directors is a governing body that supervises the activities of a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government agency. The powers, duties, and responsibilities of a board of directors are determined by government regulatio ...

Gilead Sciences Gilead Sciences, Inc. () is an American biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Foster City, California, that focuses on researching and developing antiviral drugs used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, influenza, and CO ...

and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of

California Institute of Technology The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech) is a private research university in Pasadena, California, United States. The university is responsible for many modern scientific advancements and is among a small group of institutes ...

and

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute Sanford Burnham Prebys is a nonprofit biomedical research institute located in La Jolla, California. The institute conducts basic research and translational research focused on human disease. Research at the institute focuses on cancer, neurode ...

, and she is the chairperson of the Advisory Board and primary fundraiser for

COSMOS The cosmos (, ; ) is an alternative name for the universe or its nature or order. Usage of the word ''cosmos'' implies viewing the universe as a complex and orderly system or entity. The cosmos is studied in cosmologya broad discipline covering ...

. She is a former member of the board of

ARCO Arco may refer to: Places * Arco, Trentino, a town in Trentino, Italy * Arco, Idaho, in the United States * Arco, Minnesota, a city in the United States * ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California, home of the Sacramento Kings Companies * ARCO (b ...

as well as of the

Center for Excellence in Education The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) is an American private nonprofit organization that seeks to help academically outstanding high school and college students achieve successful careers in science and technology and fulfill leadership ro ...

. Wilson is a past president of the

Junior League The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (Junior League or JL) is a private, nonprofit educational women's volunteer organization aimed at improving communities and the social, cultural, and political fabric of civil society. With ...

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

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.

References

External links

Forbes Profile of Gayle WilsonGilead Sciences Profile of Gayle Wilson
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Gayle 1942 births Living people People from Phoenix, Arizona First ladies and gentlemen of California Stanford University alumni American health activists Activists from California California Republicans