Phyllis Kahn's legacy: A progressive legislator for a progressive community...
Further details about Phyllis's activities are in the Bio Sketch and Bills Authored sections.
LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE
First elected to State House of Representatives in 1972 to Minneapolis district 57A.
Elected to 22nd term, 2014 election.
Speaker Pro Tempore, 1994, 1995, 1996.
Represented University of Minnesota area districts in Minneapolis variously labelled 57A, 58B, 59B and 60B.
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, 2015-2017
State Government Finance Division, DFL-Lead
Ways and Means
Capital Investment Committee
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Legislative Audit Commission
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
B.A. in Physics from Cornell University (1957)
Ph.D. in Biophysics from Yale University (1962)
Post-Doctoral research at Yale and Princeton Universities
Formerly a Research Associate at University of Minnesota in Department of Genetics and Cell Biology (Dec. 1965 to Sept. 1974)
Bush Leadership Fellow (1983-1986)
M.P.A., J.F.K. School of Government, Harvard University (1986)
OTHER EXPERIENCE (partial list)
American Association for the Advancement of Science — Elected Fellow (1991)
Section on General Interest in Science and Engineering — Former Chair (2002)
Section on Societal Impacts of Science and Engineering — Former Chair (1991)
National Conference of Lawyers and Scientists — Former Member
Council of State Governments
State Environmental Initiative, US-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP) — Former Advisory Committee Member
Sound Science Advisory Board — Former Member
Starbase, Inc. (a project of the State Department of Military Affairs, to enhance the teaching of science and technology to inner city youth) — Current Board Member
Maternal and Child Health Bureau Workshop on Genetics Issues in Maternal and Child Health for State Policy Makers —Planning Committee Member, December, 1999
University of Minnesota Joint Degree Program in Law, Health and Life Sciences-Advisory Board — Member (2001-present)
Participant in US-European Biotechnology Initiative on Genetically Modified Crops (Dec. 2001)
Women in Government — Former State Director and member of Higher Education Task Force
Moderator of Panel on Agricultural Issues — Genetics and Public Policy Conference May 1999 and Genetics Task Force December 1999
SELECTED AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Government Technology Magazine — Listed among Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers (2011)
Governing Magazine's Public Officials of the Year recipient (2009)
Audubon Minnesota "award for exceptional conservation leadership to secure our nation's first Lights Out law for state buildings during bird migration seasons" (2009)
Minnesota Society American Institute of Architects Special Award for "her efforts in the State Legislature and especially her authorship of the Art in State Buildings Bill." (1990)
Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) Better Government Service Award: Legislator of the Year. (1995)
Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine, Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act listed as "The Best Law" — 1995 and in the "The Best Ever" Section (2002).
Minnesota Conservation Corps Exemplary Leadership Award (2003)
Children's Defense Fund — Legislative Children's Champion (2007)
Minnesota Women's Consortium — Dreamer and Doer (2008)
"100% Minnesotan" by the Conservation Minnesota Voter Center (2008)