Minority Leader, Florida State Senate, 2014-2016

Senator, Florida State Senate, District 19, 2007-2016

Minority Leader Pro Tempore, Florida State Senate, 2010-2012

Minority Whip, Florida State Senate, 2006-2010

Representative, Florida State House of Representatives, 2001-2006

Former Member, Appropriations Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Health Policy Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Higher Education Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Joint Legislative Budget Commission, Florida State Legislature

Former Member, Judiciary Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Legislative Budget Commission, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Rules Committee, Florida State Senate

Chair, Florida Legislative Black Caucus, 2012-2013

Chair, Democratic Policy, Florida State House of Representatives, 2004-2006

Member, Executive Committee, National Labor Caucus, 2004

Member, Advisory Council, Federal Aviation Authority Management, 2000-2001

Member, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, 1991-1999

Delegate, United States Delegation, United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China, 1995

Member, Board of Directors, Tampa Economic Development Board, 1992-1994

Member, Governor's Commission on African-American Affairs, 1993-1994

Member, Hillsborough County Overall Economic Development Committee, 1992-1994

Delegate, United States Delegation, World Population and Development Conference, Cairo, Egypt, 1994

Member, Senior Advisory Council, Clinton-Gore Administration, Justice-Civil Rights Transition Cluster, 1993

Member, Florida Supreme Court Racial and Ethnic Bias Commission, 1990-1991

Member, Board of Trustees, City of Tampa General Employees Pension Fund, 1988-1990

Member, Governor's Task Force on the Black Family, 1986

Member, Hillsborough Community Housing Resource Board, 1984-1985

Charter Member, Criminal Justice Planning Council of Hillsborough County, 1974-1984

Member, Florida Probation & Parole Qualifications Selection Committee, 1977

Former Attorney

Legal Assistant, Florida State Representative Joe Lang Kershaw, 1969

Public School Teacher, 1964-1965

Trustee, University Community Hospital, 1986-present

Member, American Bar Association, present

Member, Board of Directors, Hillsborough County Bar Association, present

Member, Florida Association of Women Lawyers, present

Member, Florida Bar, present

Member, George E. Edgecomb Bar Association, Hillsborough County, present

Member, Greater Tampa Urban League, present

Member, Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers, present

Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, present

Member, National Association of Bond Lawyers, present

Member, Board of Directors, Hillsborough Head Start Community Foundation Board Incorporated, 2002

Member, Board of Directors, Florida A&M University Foundation, 1996-2000

National Parliamentarian, Links Incorporated, 1997-2000

Member, Legal Steering Committee, Airports Council International, North America, 1995-1999

Member, Policy Board, Tampa Bay Partnership, 1993-1999

Member, Steering Committee, Commissioners' Roundtable, Airports Council International, North America, 1992-1999

Member, Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for Florida, 1992-1996

Chair, Judicial Nominating Commission, 13th Judicial Circuit, 1993-1994

Member, Board of Governors, Minority Economic Development Council, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 1990-1993

Member, Leadership Florida, 1992-1993

Member, National Legal Counsel, National Coalition 100 Black Women Incororated, 1992-1993

National Legal Advisor, Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated, 1985-1992

Member, Board of Directors, Bay Area Legal Services, 1977-1986, 1990

Member, Board of Directors, Travelers Aid Society Incorporated, 1980-1988

Member, Board of Directors, Helping Hand Day Nursery, 1978-1986

President, National Bar Association, 1984-1985

Member, Board of Directors, Young Woman's Christian Association (YWCA), 1976-1977

President, Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association, 1974-1976

Member, Board of Directors, Tampa Urban League, 1975

Member, Hillsborough County Nursing Home Ombudsman Committee, 1975

First Job:

Reading, traveling